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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 




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Rushford 

and 

Rushford People 

Planned, Edited and Published 
by 

Helen Josephine White Gilbert 

Historical Committee of 
Rushford's Centennial 

1910 



Printed by 
Chautauqua Print Shop 






Copyrighted 1910 

BY MRS. HELEN WHITE GILBERT 



(T CI.A28O07O 



PREFACE 

This book is a result ol the Rushford Centennial which 
was held August 16-21, 1908. It has been written to keep 
in memory not only the names but the noble deeds and the 
bright sayings of those who helped to make the town what 
it was and is. 

The preparation of the material which appears here 
was begun February i, 1908, and has been continued to 
the present time. Old letters, diaries, deeds, records of 
various kinds, and copies of the Republican Era, the Neivs 
Letter and the Spectator have been used. The books which 
have been consulted are "75th Anniversary of the Baptist 
Church of Rushford, N. Y.," "Home Life in Colonial 
Days" by Alice Morse Earle, "Nathaniel Ely and his De- 
scendants," compiled by Heman Ely, "History of the Gene- 
see Conference" by Conable, "Allegany County Directory" 
(1874-5), "History of Allegany County" (1879), "Allegany 
and its People" (1896), "Pioneer History" by Turner, and 
"History of Cattaraugus County." I must express my great 
obligation to my son, Allan H. Gilbert, for his assistance in 
copying the manuscripts and for his valuable criticisms; also 
to Miss Ellen Lyman for her aid in getting school matter 
ready for publication. In preparing the roster of soldiers 
I gladly acknowledge my indebtedness to Miss Mildred Hil- 
dreth, Philander D. Ellithorpe, John R. Heald and Abram 
J. Lyon. The list of pastors of the Free Methodist Church 
was furnished by the Rev. C. E. Pike, that of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church by Miss Ellen Gordon. In writing the 
sketch upon the Methodist Episcopal Church I received 
help from a paper written by James Benjamin, and in writ- 
ing the one upon the Presbyterian Church I was aided by 



Preface 

Mrs. Aurora Thompson Green. Martin Lyon, F. E. Ham- 
mond, S. E. Kilmer, Chauncey Williams, Newell White, 
Mrs. Cornelia Metcalf, Chester Perry, and last but not least, 
my husband, Eddy C. Gilbert, have been especially helpful 
to me in my work. I wish to express my appreciation to the 
many for their interest, their good wishes and their generous 
response both to numerous questions and to requests for 
written contributions. 

In any revision of the papers it has been my aim to 
preserve not only the thought but the individuality of the 
writer. Owing to the great variety of matter, there is 
something in the book to interest everyone. As a work of 
reference it will be of value since no pains have been spared 
to make sure of accuracy. 

If the readers of the book receive in its perusal some- 
thing of the pleasure and profit which have been derived 
from its preparation, I shall be satisfied. 

Helen J. White Gilbert. 

Rush ford. New York, July, 19 lO. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



PAGE. 



CHAPTER. 

I Centennial AcUli-ess ^ 

II Soil and Forests— F. Engene Hammond 4 

III Families • ^^ 

The Gary Family— Frank Eneas Woods n 

The Swifts ^7 

William Vanghan ^9 

Abel Belknap 20 

The Gordons 22 

Josephus Young 3i 

The Woodses— Clarissa Woods Calkms 2,2 

Abraham J. Lyon 39 

Thomas Pratt 4i 

The Bennetts— Allan H. Gilbert 42 

Samson Hardy 47 

The Bannisters— Albert W. Bannister 49 

The Bannisters— Amelia Bannister DeBerczy 51 

The Bannisters— The Ely Book 56 

The Thirds— Nancy E. DeKay 58 

The Perrys "0 

Luther Woodworth 02 

John Hammond o4 

Amba Alderman ^ 

The Freemans ^7 

The Goings— Harriet Going Colby 08 

The Orcutts— Allan H. Gilbert 7i 

Matthew P. Cady 75 

James McCall 70 

Levi Benjamin 79 

Samuel Persons oi 

David Board °3 

James Kendall °5 

David Kinney 88 

Daniel Ely— Julia Williams Straight 89 

The Gillettes, including a story told by Charles B. 

Kendall— V. R. Gillette 9° 

Asa Benjamin 94 

Elijah Lyman 95 

The Butterfields 97 

Charles Hapgood — Emer Corse lOO 

The Taylors 100 

B. T. Hapgood and Family 102 

The Tarbells I05 

Chapman Brooks I07 

The Searls I09 



Contents 

Samuel White— Helen J. White Gilbert in 

The Griffins Ii6 

George Scott 120 

Charles White 122 

Joseph Bell— Mary Bell Dickey 124 

Riifus Adams — Viola Adams Farwell 127 

Micah Hall 128 

The Sextons 131 

Alvin K. Morse 132 

The Smiths — Irene Smith Kendall 134 

The Kingsburys 138 

The Leavens 142 

Billings and Hannah Walker — Julia Tarbell Merrill 149 

Newbury Eddy — Eddy C. Gilbert 151 

Nahum Ames — Augusta Ames Woods 153 

A. W. E. Damon — Charles M. Damon 153 

Harmon Hvde — Mary Ann Hyde 157 

Harris Gilbert— Eddy C. Gilbert 158 

Aaron Rice 161 

Israel Thompson — Julia Thompson 162 

The Hillarys — Maude Howard Brady 164 

The Rev. Elijah Metcalf — Flora Mctcalf Thomas.. 166 

James H. Green — Ellen Green Nye 172 

The Moores— Eddy C. Gilbert 174 

The Colburns 175 

Robert English — Victoria English Gordon 177 

John Lamberson — Frank Lamberson 180 

Randolph Heald 181 

John G. Osborn 183 

Isaiah Lathrop — Alice Lathrop Holden 184 

David Babbitt— Allan H. Gilbert 186 

Michael Warren — Albert L. W^arren 189 

The Beecher.s — David Herbert Beecher 190 

The Georges — David Herbert Beecher 193 

The Georges — Agnes George Taylor 193 

Robert Morrow 196 

John W. Hill — Jennie W. Bush 197 

The Thomases — John J. Thomas 198 

IV The Churches 201 

The First Baptist Church 201 

Mission Circle — Jennie A. Westcott 207 

Social — Jennie A. Westcott 208 

The First Methodist Episcopal Chureli .?oq 

Reminiscences — Frank Eneas Woods 219 

Reminiscences — ^Esther B. Woods Eldridge 220 

Reminiscences — T. W. Chandler 221 

Remodeling of the M. E. Church — Anon 225 

Ladies Aid Society — Ellen E. Gordon 227 

F.pworth League 230 



Contents 

The Freewill Baptist Church 231 

The Presbyterian Church .. .^ J> 

The Wesleyan Methodist Church • ■ J>^ 

The UniversaHst Church-Ellen Green Nye 236 

The First Free Methodist Church. 239 

Bequests or Requests-Arhe White Ives 241 

V The Schools / ■ " V^,", t 9i\ 

History of the Schools— Ellen Lyman 243 

Snuifscences of V. R. GiUette-EUen Ly-an 248 

Reminiscences of W. F. Bennett-Ellen Lyman.... 250 

Memory Pictures-Sarah Ford Crosby .....■• -53 

The^FiSt ^PhUomlthean' Society^W . ' F. Bement . . . 258 

The Mystic Association-E L., H. J. VV. G -bo 

The Second Philomathean Society ^^^ 

The Polyhymnian Society ■•■•■■.••••• ^ •>••■ 'tV" " V 
The Present Philomathean Society— E. L., n. J. 

Alumni Poem— Lucy Marsh Poate ^73 

College Graduates, etc '. ' ' 279 

Artists 280 

VI Physicians ; 280 

The Medical Profession ^g^ 

Anecdotes, etc • _• X ' '• ' ' V ' Cf o^,"r -^.Sfi 

Recollections of a Physician-Ornn T. S acy 285 

VII Town Meetings, Supervisors and Town Clerks .... . . -94 

VIII Societies • • • • •; : ^^q 

Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons 29» 

Rushford Lodge ■ • • • • • ■ ■„; , ■ • • ^ 

Joseph Enos Lodge-Eddy C. Gilbert. 303 

Banquet of the Rushford Historical Society....... 304 

^^ ^ An' Interesting ' Letted' of " War "Time-A.' W. E. 

Damon ,q„ 

Roster of Soldiers -f ^ 

War of the Revolution i' 

War of 1812 ^^^ 

Celebratim/in Rushford 'of the' Taking of Richmond 338 

^ ^^The Historv' of' "M'usic-S'ophi'a 'Benjami'n Taylor. . 340 

The Rushford Band-Sumner E. Kilmer, Abram ^^^ 

The 'Rns\°fo'rd 'Cornet 'Band-Frank Eneas Woods.. 347 

XI Our Bells ^S^ 

XII Reminiscences .••••. ~ 

Reminiscences— Maria Benjamin ^5 

Wolves— Julia Williams Straight 35^ 

Recollections— Ellen White Hubbell .^. . . . . . .^ - • • • 3-° 

Reminiscences of Rushford-Corneha Gilman Green 358 



Contents 



XIII 



XV 



XVI 

XVII 

XVIII 

XIX 

XX 



XXI 
XXII • 
XXIII 
XXIV 
XXV 



Recollections — B. J. Jewell 361 

Reminiscences — Esther B. Woods Eldridge 36^ 

Reminiscences of Podonque — Esther B. Woods Eld- 
ridge, Clarissa Woods Calkins 364 

Rushford Reminiscences^Harrison L. Wilson.... 366 
Recollections of Kelloggville, Rush Creek and East 

Rushford— Hosea B. Ackerly 3/6 

Reminiscences — Mary Smith 386 

Recollections and Characteristics — Helen M. Judd.. 392 
Reminiscences of Rushford— Charles M. Damon... 399 

Rushford and Rushford People— Mary E. Lane 414 

Recollections — Orrin Leslie Elliott 433 

Retrospection — Clara Bristol Tiffany 437 

A Picture — Florence Octavia Munger 444 

Moriturus Ave !— G. W. F. Buck 445 

Great Celebrations 449 

Semi-Centennial 449 

A Leaf from My Journal — Cynthia Woodworth. . 455 
Rushford's Centennial and Home Coming Week... 458 

The Relics 470 

The Choir, the Orchestra, the Double Quartet 
and the Band— Clara Elizabeth Poate, Helen 

J. White Gilbert 477 

The Farmers' Parade— Russell M. Wilmarth 481 

The School Day Parade— Lucy Marsh Poate, 

Clara Elizabeth Poate, Allan H. Gilbert 486 

Old Home Week at Rushford— Mary Sherwood 494 

Baseball Team — Abram P. Benjamin 497 

Cheese 500 

Early Cheese Making 500 

Pineapple Cheese 50i 

The Rushford Cheese Factory ._ 502 

Cheese Box Factories *.'. S03 

Fires 505 

Asheries 5ii 

The Storm of 1838 513 

The Flood of August 16 and 17, 1864 514 

Railroads 5^7 

Our Lost T. V. and C. R. R 5i7 

The Railroad— Lucretia Elmer Morse 518 

Miscellaneous 521 

Public Entertainments 532 

Movements— Ellen Lyman 543 

The Press— Eddy C. Gilbert 548 

Rushford 554 

An Editorial, Entitled Rushford— H. E. Puidy 554 

Rushford in 1848 555 

A Comparison 560 

Rushford 564 



List of Illustrations 

PAGE. 

Helen White Gilbert Frontispiece 

Old Home Week at Rushford, 1908 10 

Mr. and Mrs. William L. Gary 15 

Jedediah Buckingham Gordon 23 

Daniel Clark Woods 29 

Mrs. Ely ( Nancy Gary) Woods 33 

Marena W^oods 38 

H. Nelson Hammond 65 

John Hammond 65 

Mrs. Myra A. Persons Farwell 82 

Charles Han ford Kendall 86 

Hiram B. Gilbert 91 

Mrs. Hiram B. Gilbert 91 

^Irs. Cynthia A. Woodworth 108 

Frank E. White and sons Thomas and Robert 112 

Henry Kirke White 1 14 

Store Built by Oramel Griffin 119 

Mrs. Harriet Swift White 123 

C. K. B. Smith 135 

Grover M. Pratt 143 

Inez L. Leavens 145 

Eddy C. Gilbert i59 

Residence of George Gant 160 

Rev. Elijah Metcalf ; 167 

Levi Metcalf 167 

Mrs. Cornelia Metcalf English 169 

John R. Heald 182 

Obed T. Wilmot 202 

William Gordon 210 

William H. Thomas 242 

Rushford Acadeniv 246 

Allan H. Gilbert. ." 278 

Orrin T. Stacy, M. D 281 

Alamanzo W. Litchard 297 

Sumner E. Kilmer 329 

Harvey Crocker 385 

Mr. and Mrs. Abraham J. Lyon 450 

Samuel White 453 

Rev. Thomas L. Pratt 453 

Mr. and Mrs. Irving McCall 467 

Among the Relics 471 

Farmers' Parade— Old Home Week 482 

Old Home Week — School Parade 487 

Clothing Rooms and Post Office, 1859 507 

Jesse P. Bixby, AL D.. and grandson, Clarence Wilmot 563 

Tarbell House 565 

Upper Main Street 567 

The Man with the Shovel 570 

Map 



I 

CENTENNIAL ADDRESS 

Helen J. White Gilbert 

ALTHOUGH the writing of the history has been a task, 
it has been a pleasant one. At first it seemed as if a 
thick veil were hung before our eyes, through which we were 
vainly trying to peer into the past, but at times the curtain 
has been lifted and we have seen visions. The dry bones of 
the valley have been clothed with flesh and we have walked 
and talked with the worthies of old. 

The relationships in our town are marvelous to con- 
template. Probably there is no man in the country who has 
more relatives than Fred G. Gordon,* belonging to the large 
family of Gordons and related to all the Garys, all the Tar- 
bells, all the Kendalls, and — as if that were not enough, he 
must marry a Woods. H Mr. Gordon should make a din- 
ner party some day and invite all his relatives we would 
all go. 

The Holland Purchase was an immense tract of land in 
western New York, comprising (with the exception of the 
State mile strip along the Niagara River and the Indian 
reservations) Niagara. Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus 
counties and the western portions of Orleans, Genesee, Wy- 
oming and Allegany counties. It was owned by a number 
of rich merchants of Amsterdam, Holland, who formed the 
Holland Land Company. In a deed dated 1818, their names 
were Wilhelm Willink, Henry Vollenhoven and Rutger Jan 
Schimmelpennick. The surveyor and local land agent who 
had charge of the settlement of the Holland Purchase was 

*W. H. Leavens rivals Mr. Gordon in the number of relatives. 



Centennial Address 

Joseph Ellicott, an able man, rich, single, and melancholy. 
His name still lives in ElHcott Square, Buffalo, and in Elli- 
cottville. It was to Ellicottville that the settlers went to 
make their payments. The first six to take out articles for 
land in Rush ford, in 1808, were Chas. Swift, Eneas Gary, 
Othniel Perry, William Vaughan, Andre Bennett and Joshua 
Wilson. 

The Indians who roamed through the forests belonged 
to the tribe of Senecas, a part of the Iroquois Confederacy. 

As many of the inhabitants came from Windsor County, 
Vermont, they decided to name the town Windsor; but it 
was given up as there was already in the State a place by 
that name. Wilson Gordon of Topeka, Kansas, says that 
it was named Rushford because of the rushes growing along 
the Caneadea Creek. Samuel White said that it was named 
after Dr. Rush of Philadelphia, an eminent physician and 
signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

The pioneers were not effeminate but men of strength 
with interesting individualities. If intemperance and pro- 
fanity were more common then than today, it was the fault 
of the times. The cause of temperance has made great 
progress since 1808, when the members of the first temper- 
ance organization in the country agreed not to drink rum, 
except at public dinners and when they did not feel well. 
During the first fifteen years no indictable offense was com- 
mitted in town. Some one has said that Rushford, with its 
industry, its thrift, and its morals, was a second New Eng- 
land. 

For the golden days of Rushford we must look back 
before the Civil War took the flower of our youth, before 
steam power was used in manufacturing, before and soon 
after the Erie Railroad was completed, when timber was 



Centennial Address 

abundant, when children numbered nine, and when the gar- 
ments a man wore, the chair he sat upon and the wagon in 
which he rode to church might all have been labeled "Made 
in Rushford." Before 1850 Rushford was the liveliest place 
in Allegany County. In 1855 the population was at its height, 
numbering two thousand. 

The past of our town has been glorious. If we develop 
the best that is in us and are loyal to her institutions her 
future may be glorious. 



The territory of the following towns of Allegany County 
was included in the Holland Purchase : Centerville, 
Rushford, New Hudson, Cuba, Clarksville, Genesee, Hume, 
Caneadea, Belfast, Friendship, Wirt, Bolivar. When Can- 
eada was formed, March 11, 1808, it embraced the terri- 
tory of all the towns named above except Centerville and 
Hume. 

Rushford was formed from Caneadea in 1816, and 
Haight, now New Hudson, was formed from Rushford 
April 10, 1825. The present township of Rushford was 
known as township five, range two, in the survey of the 
Holland Land Company. It was divided into lots by Wm. 
Rumsey in the summer of 1807, and the land was imme- 
diately offered for sale. The township is divided into sixty- 
four lots. Lot number i is in the southeast corner of the 
township, north of it is lot number 2, and west is lot num- 
ber 9. The village of Rushford is in the center of the town- 
ship where lots 28, 29, 36, and 37 corner. 



II 

SOIL AND FORESTS 
(Farmers' Day Address) 
F. Eugene Hammond. 
Mr. President, Friends and Fellow-Farmers: 

IT is a pleasure to be here this day of the "Old Home 
Week," and take part in your exercises by presenting to 
you a short address relating to the soil and forestry of 
Rush ford township. This subject has been of deep inter- 
est to me from boyhood — an inheritance, perhaps, from my 
mother, who passed most of her life in this vicinity, and 
who had, like myself, an especial love for those lesser chil- 
dren of Nature — the trees of the forest. 

During the ages past — an eternity to us — the rocks were 
formed at the bed of the sea. Later, these were elevated 
above sea-level, and in a still later period, were broken 
to pieces and changed into soil through the two giant forces, 
ice and fire, or in other words, through the action of water, 
heat and cold. 

Through all of the western part of the State of New 
York, as well as in the township of Rushford, the soil that 
lies upon the surface, varying in depth in valley and upland, 
has been produced from the primitive rocks in this man- 
ner, and largely, too. in a comparatively recent age known 
as the "Drift or Ice Period." 

Prior to the "Drift Period," the surface of this area 
was, in all probability, at a higher elevation than the pres- 
ent hill-tops, and also nearly level. The bed rocks as we 
find them now along the western slope of the Alleghany 
Mountains, lie nearly horizontal, dipping a little faster to 



Soil and Forests 

the southwest than the average level of the surface. In 
proof of this, we find the pebble sand-rocks of Venango 
County, near Oil City, Pa., that lie nearly four hundred 
feet below the river-level along the Allegheny River, grad- 
ually rise to the surface at Warren, Pa., and coming still 
further northeast, remnants of this same rock strata are 
found in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties on the hill- 
tops, known to us as "Rock Cities." Lying under these 
sand-rocks are shales and slates that make a rich soil when 
broken or dissolved into dirt. 

You may ask, "How is it known that the slates and 
shales make good soil, and that the rocks He horizontal, 
also, that our hills are formed by erosion instead of vol- 
canic action ?"' One answer is, we have found these facts 
in drilling for petroleum or rock-oil. In this work, we find 
that our uplands and hills have slates and shales that are not 
found when drilling in the valleys, while the bedrocks be- 
neath the soil of our valleys are found under our hills, at 
a depth equal to the elevation of the well being drilled above 
the level of the valleys. As to the quality of the soil formed 
from shales and slates, we have set fruit trees in the drill- 
ings brought to the surface from these rocks, and found that 
the trees grew faster and larger than in common soil, also 
that the surrounding vegetation was afifected in a like man- 
ner. 

Geologists who have made a study of that area of the 
Imited States which extends from the New England States 
southwesterly to the Mississippi Valley believe that the 
time which has elapsed since the close of the "Ice Period," 
to be from forty thousand to sixty thousand years. This 
seems a very long time to us, but it is merely yesterday 
when compared to the total age of the rocks which form 



Soil and Forests 

the planet on which we Hve. How this immense field of 
ice (which is believed to have been a mile or more in thick- 
ness) happened to be placed on this part of the earth, as well 
as over northern Europe, is a matter of mere conjecture. 
There are many theories, but not one that wholly explains 
the phenomenon. However, it seems certain to have been 
here, and to have remained centuries before the alternating 
temperature of summer and winter came to change it into 
rushing, whirling waters, that tore the rocks to pieces and 
cut channels and gorges in a mad rush to the sea. 

The 'Tee Period" was ushered out in a slow and grad- 
ual manner, which, while it tore the sand rocks, slates, and 
shales in pieces, also mixed the substances composing 
them in varying proportions, and left a part along our val- 
leys and dells, even as we see the process being carried out 
in a small way today. Some of the deposits of this mixture 
of rocks, left along our streams and valleys, compose the 
banks of gravel with sand and clays mixed, making the 
loam-land soil found in the eastern part of this township. 
In other places on our hills and hill-sides, the clay made 
from the shales predominated, with little or no sand and 
gravel. 

The continued action of the seasons on this soil, further 
dissolving it and making it finer, at length prepared and 
made it ready for that new life which we name the tree 
kingdom, to come, take root, and flourish. And it came, but 
from where, and in what manner, we do not know. But we 
do know that for centuries it was here in all its beauty and 
majesty, adding its contributions of wood and leaf-mold 
to the soil, which through the whole process become the 
best for producing a greater variety of fruits, grains, and 
grasses than any other on the planet. 



Soil and Forests 

Here, a century ago, only a century, stood the most 
magnificent forest on the globe. Rooted to this soil was a 
variety of trees unequaled in value. Here stood the white 
pine, tlie hemlock, the maple, the beech, the ash, the cherry, 
the oak, the chestnut, the birch, the elm, the basswood, the 
cucumber, the hickory and other smaller kinds. Thick they 
stood, each kind rooted to the soil best adapted to its needs, 
reaching their twigs and branches from the long trunks, 
high and higher in the struggle of life, that each might 
drink in through its foliage the breath of the sunlight. 
Beneath them, in the shadow, close to earth, nestled the vege- 
tation — vernal wild-flowers, ferns and mosses. Such luxu- 
riance, such panoramic pictures of sun and shade, such 
changing scenes of virgin wilderness could only be por- 
trayed by one hand — the Artist-hand of God painting 
the pictures of Nature. Among these forests, as our earth 
gradually became fitted for his life and maintenance, came 
another form of life — Man. A pygmy he seemed, in com- 
parison to the giant trees beneath which he crept. One 
hundred years ago the first white settler came to this town- 
ship to make his home. Many others, year by year for a 
period of thirty or more years, followed. Each settled upon 
a parcel of the forest-land, usually a hundred acres or less, 
dividing a section of three hundred and sixty acres into 
three or four parts. 

Each settler, on arrival, with ax in hand, and a pair 
of oxen, either his or borrowed from a neighbor a mile or 
more away, began to cut and dispose of the trees that cov- 
ered his ground. He could utilize for fuel and a log habita- 
tion only a mere fraction of them. Acre after acre of timber 
was cut, logged and burned on the ground. Nearly all the 
timber was destroyed in this manner, the work continuing 



Soil and Forests 

until 1850. Since then the waste has gone steadily on in 
other ways, until now hardly an acre of virgin forest stands 
in the township. Practically the some condition prevails all 
over New York and Pennsylvania. The fact is, we are 
facing a timber famine. From the State of Maine to the 
eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, and south to where 
the long and short leaf pitch-pine grows, there is prac- 
tically no timber of any consequence. Even that outside of 
this area is disappearing so rapidly that it is no wonder the 
government has taken steps to save the remaining timber- 
lands of our country. 

It would have been almost impossible for our early 
settlers to have lived in this hilly district, with its rugged 
winters, had it not been for the protection offered them by 
the forest, and the wonderful capability of a soil, made 
fertile by centuries of forest mold, to produce a diversity 
of products. What a change in this place today ! The for- 
ests gone ; the soil impoverished through lack of proper cul- 
tivation ; land abandoned, except for the scanty pasturage 
it affords! Would it not be well for the farmers and land- 
owners to give serious attention to more scientific methods 
of agriculture, and to use every effort for the preservation 
of the little ill-kept timber we have left? If we would all 
begin a systematic effort to set out trees in waste places, 
such as ravines and steep hillsides, it would accomplish 
much. Future generations would heed the lesson given, and 
continue the work. Our children would thank us and re- 
member us kindly for our forethought. We should soon 
see the reward for our efforts, for trees grow rapidly in 
this climate with its natural tree soil. I hope the Grange in 
this township will take the initiative in this tree preserva- 
tion and culture, thus starting and extending the educational 
work to other agricultural societies of our State. 

8 



Soil and Forests 

Something of the story of the rocks, soil and forests 
of this township, as I have endeavored to tell it, is por- 
trayed in the following brief poem of twelve lines: 

About the trembling, palpitating Earth, 

Their weapons Ice and Fire, with ruin soiled, 

A thousand epochs ere the Pygmy's birth. 
The planetary Giants fought and toiled. 

The Artist-dream of an eternity — 

They wrought the ^"ision as the ages fell — 

A varied Eden, clothed with flower and tree 
From shining upland to each dusky dell. 

Then, while they slept, the crafty Pygmy came 
With tiny ax — and in a century's haste 

Crept o'er the Picture — gave it bounds and name, 
And marred the Vision to his human taste. 



Ill 

RUSHFORD FAMILIES 
. THE GARY FAMILY 
F. E. Woods 

ENOS GARY, the first settler of the township of Rush- 
ford, New York, was born in Taunton, Bristol County, 
Massachusetts, September 23, 1757. He with two brothers, 
Seth and Loved, and one sister, Hannah, comprised the 
children of the household. These brothers kept the family 
lines of their descendants separate by each spelling the sur- 
name differently as Gary, Garey and Geary. Governor 
Gerry of that State, said to be a relative by one versed in 
Gary genealogy, had still a different spelling of the name. 
The daughter of the sister Hannah married a Mr. Bridg- 
man. Their daughter, Laura Bridgman, was in her day 
about as celebrated as Helen Keller, having been rendered 
deaf, dumb and blind by scarlet fever when two years of 
age. Dr. Samuel G. Howe, husband of Julia Ward Howe, 
won great notoriety by educating Laura Bridgman, and 
has been called the Cadmus of the blind. Miss Bridgman 
became a skillful teacher of the blind at Perkins Institute, 
Boston. Charles Dickens, the English novelist, visited her 
and wrote of her in his 'American Notes." 

Enos Gary early moved to Lebanon, Connecticut, where 
he enlisted for the Revolutionary War. He was in the mer- 
cantile business as an importer. His partner, a relative, took 
funds to England to pay on account and make purchases 
but died while on this business, and as no papers of pay- 
ment were found on him, Mr. Gary was again obliged to 
send funds for settlement which he made in full and closed 
the firm's business. The opening of the Holland Purchase 



Rush ford Families 

attracted eastern people so Mr. Gary, as the records in the 
Allegany County Atlas show, took up lot number thirty, 
about half a mile north of Rushford Village, in 1808, moving 
his family from Weathersfield, Vermont, where he had 
been in business about one year. The journey was made 
with an ox team. The party consisted of himself and 
wife, his son William and wife, and three other children, 
the youngest about five years of age. Arriving at Center- 
ville, where Mr. Maxson had a few years before begun the 
settlement of that township, and leaving most of his family 
there, he and his son William and the lively girl Nancy, 
then nearly nine years of age, drove south six miles, having 
previously blazed the way through the unbroken forest, on 
January i, 1809, to found a home and begin life anew 
in the wilderness. It was a great change from a mercan- 
tile life. On the ox-sled they had brought a kettle of coals 
the fire from which was probably kept for many years and 
kindled again on the hearth stones of many newly arriving 
settlers. Going to the neighbors to borrow fire was no un- 
common thing in those days. The son William felled the 
first tree. They put up that day a log shanty, a lean-to, 
covered it with cotton cloth and there spent the night, hav- 
ing tied the oxen to trees and built seven fires about to 
keep ofif the wild beasts. The rest of the family came soon, 
and the next year his sons-in-law, William Gordon and 
Cephas Young, arrived, and a year and a half later his son, 
Charles Gary, and wife, also. 

After making improvements for five years on this well 
located place, now the Isaac Weaver farm,* Mr. Gary sold 
it for $1,000 and moved on to the road west, a half mile 
farther north, to what is now called the Thomas farm. 

*This farm has since been sold to Benjamin Williams. 

12 



The Gary Family 

liere he built a two-story house and set out an orchard, 
perhaps the first one in town. His son-in-law, Mr. Young, 
lived on the same farm on the lower road. 

Of course Mr. Gary had to keep open house for the 
new comers, and as he was very sociable and friendly, his 
home was somewhat of a hotel for a while. Born about 
thirty miles from Boston, living in the stormy times that 
preceded and followed the long struggle for liberty, him- 
self a soldier in it, he had a fund of anecdotes, stories and 
reminiscences and withal business experience, fitting him 
for an agreeable entertainer. 

How he became acquainted with the Gordons is not 
known. Mr. James Gordon, a Scotchman, came to this 
country as a British soldier, but afterwards joined the Con- 
tinental army. In one of his genial banters with his friend, 
Mr. Gordon, Mr. Gary, alluding to Gordon, said to those 
about, "This is the man I took prisoner." "Well," Mr. Gor- 
don replied, "my son captured two of Mr. Gary's daughters, 
so I guess we are about even." Just how much of the taking 
prisoner was warlike no one now living can say. Mr. Gor- 
don said as he took his pension, "I came over to fight you 
Yankees and now you are paying me for it," and also, "I 
have held the stirrup many a time for Washington." 

Mr. Gary surveyed what is now Rushford township 
and marked the center by embedding a grind-stone in the 
middle of Main Street a little below the High School grounds. 
Nearly opposite this point, in a cottage which is now the 
rear of the Morgan home, the early settler and his wife spent 
some of their later years till, too old and feeble for house- 
hold duties, they were tenderly cared for in the home of 
their son-in-law, William Gordon. 

Mrs. Gary, honored and respected, filled well her sta- 
tion, caring for her family and welcoming the new settlers. 

13 



Rushford Families 

Before her marriage she was Miss Esther Buckingham, 
daughter of Jedediah P. Buckingham of Lebanon, Con- 
necticut, a man of large family and of name somewhat 
noted in that State. A letter to Rev. F. E. Woods from the 
war governor. William A. Buckingham, also born in Leba- 
non, states concerning "Gary-Buckingham" genealogy, "no 
doubt we are relatives, for I have known no person bear- 
ing my name, residing in this country, unless it be a 
family in Maryland, who is not a descendant of Thomas 
Buckingham, one of the first settlers and one of the 'seven 
pillars' of the church, in Milford, Connecticut." 

Mr. and Mrs. Gary were people of refinement and 
rather genteel manners. He wore continental style of cloth- 
ing (knee breeches with gold buckles), powdered hair and 
a wig for dress up. Mrs. Gary had silk and satin dresses. 
They were Presbyterians and had family prayer. Mrs. M. 
B. Champlin of Cuba when a young girl called on these her 
grandparents one morning and finding them at family prayer 
waited at the door till their devotions were over. 

Mr. Gary was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
record of which is with Miss Ellen Gordon of Rushford. 

Until their golden wedding anniversary and three years 
after, this worthy couple were permitted to journey together, 
then the beloved wife fell asleep, August 27, 1841, aged 
seventy-eight years, and Mr. Gary died three years later, 
August 17, 1844, aged eighty-seven years. On the morning 
of his departure he said, "I saw Esther last night and she 
was just as beautiful as when I married her." Their re- 
mains rest in Rushford cemetery. Seven children and about 
forty grandchildren survived them. 

COMMENDATORY 

With due honor to his helpmeet, we may say of Mr. 
Gary that by his service to his country in the long and un- 

14 




William L. Gary and Wife 



Rush ford Families 

certain struggle of the Revolution ; by beginning again when 
past fifty years of age bravely to battle with difficulties and 
regain a competence; by his service to the community in 
which he lived ; by his love for his f ellowmen and to God ; 
by these things he made himself an honored pioneer in the 
founding of a well-famed town. 

DESCENDANTS 

The children of the first settler were : 

William, called Capt. Gary. 

Esther, wife of Josephus Young. 

Mira, first wife of William Gordon. 

Charles. 

Martha, second wife of William Gordon. 

Nancy, wife of Ely Woods. 

Caroline, wife of Oramel Griffin. 

These all lived and died in Rushford, excepting Charles, 
who with his family embarked on a raft at Olean, went 
down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and settled in Rising 
Sun, Indiana. His eight children grew up to honorable 
estate; two of them were Methodist preachers in Kansas. 
Two of Enos Gary's sons-in-law, William Gordon and 
Oramel Griffin, were prominent business men in Rushford. 
The latter earned his first hundred dollars by felling trees 
for a clearing. With this money he early opened a store in 
Rushford and continued in that business over twenty-five 
years, accumulating, it was supposed, $100,000. 

The daughter Nancy, by accompanying her father, Mr. 
Gary, on the first day of settlement, became thus the first 
white woman to stay in the town over night. On March 
31, 1818, she was married to Ely Woods. For a wedding 
trip they drove with an ox team from Mr. Young's down 
to the present site of Rushford, where the people gathered 

16 



The Swifts 

to attend the raising of the first tavern, a log structure, at 
the present location of the village. To begin housekeeping 
they placed the furniture on an ox-cart and drove to the 
farm on which they both lived and died, having reared 
a family of eight children. A year after celebrating their 
golden wedding Mrs. Woods departed this life aged nearly 
seventy, Mr. Woods about ten years later aged nearly eighty- 
five. They were both earnest, religious people, he a class 
leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church nearly forty years. 
Descendants of Eneas Gary who reside in town : Miss 
Ellen E. Gordon, Fred G. Gordon, Mrs. Verna Gordon 
Tarbell, Bertram Crocker, Fred H. Crocker, Nora B. Crocker, 
Carrie D. Crocker, Mrs. Minnie Osborn Jagers, Albert Far- 
well and Dorrance Farwell. 



THE SWIFTS 
H. J. W. G. 

MOSES WARD of Cheshire, Ontario County, said 
in his reminiscences that when he was a boy he 
staid for a time with his sister, Mrs. Andrey Hawley, who 
lived on Oil Creek (Cuba was at first called Oil Creek). 
Speaking of the settlers who came in the summer of 1807, he 
mentions Mr. Swift, eight miles north. The Holland Purchase 
records show that the first man to take a contract for land in 
township five, range two, was Charles Swift, from Cazeno- 
via, Madison County. In 1809 he was probably living on 
what was later called the English farm, on the Cuba road ; 
his son Neman lived* farther west on the same road. The 
late Porter Swift of Wisconsin said that his father, Heman, 

*The farm on which Heman lived is now owned by the Ack- 
erly Company, and joins the English farm. 

17 



Rush ford Families 

came to Rush ford "when the Indians were painted up and 
were going to kill the whites off," and that his father moved 
back to Cazenovia three times because he was afraid of the 
Indians. The children of Heman and Ann Swift were 
Harriet (Mrs. Charles White) born in 1806, Van Lansing, 
Heman and Porter. Harriet said that one afternoon when 
she and a woman sat visiting they saw a bear come down 
the road and go into the cellar. They went out and stopped 
up the window\ When the men came home they shot the 
bear. The skin sold for forty dollars. Heman and Ann 
Swift both died in 1853. lone, William, Charles and George 
VanDusen are the great-grandchildren of Heman Swift who 
live in Rushford. 

Charles Swift was a Revolutionary soldier.* His grand- 
son, the late Porter Swift, thought he set out the first or- 
chard in town. If he did not have the honor of being the 
first permanent settler he had the distinction of having the 
first horses and sleigh in the settlement. The whiffletrees 
were attached to the runners of the sleigh. Charles Swift 
kept a tavern. There was a great demand for taverns in 
Rushford because people were passing through to a new 
country or driving cattle or hauling lumber. Oats were a 
shilling a bushel, lodging a sixpence, meals a shilling, and 
whiskey sixteen cents a gallon. 

Charles Swift, Jr., was elected to office at the first 
town meeting. March 18, 181 7. he became one of the char- 
ter members of the Rushford Masonic Lodge, having pre- 
viously belonged to the Angelica Lodge. He married Electa, 
daughter of the widow Butterfield, about 1820. In 1847 l^^ 
sold his farm to Robert English and moved to Pennsylvania. 

Jackson Swift, another son of Charles Swift, lived on 

*See list of Soldiers of Revolution. 

18 



J 



William Vaughan 
the same road nearer the village. He moved to Wisconsin 
in 1842. 

Mrs. Johanna Swift, wife of Charles Swift, in 1838 
went to Missouri with many others from Rushford. She 
went ahead of the ox team and picked out the places to 
stop for dinner and to camp at night. Later she came back 
to Rushford. One Christmas she was in a sleigh with the 
Gillettes and ]\Irs. Amanda Baird on her way to the home 
of her grand-daughter, Mrs. Harriet White, where they 
were to spend the day. The horses got into a big snow 
drift near the Enghsh schoolhouse and the grandmother, 
although eighty-three years old, insisted on walking to the 
house, which was in sight. When she reached it she went 
onto the bed and by the time all were in the house she had 
gone to her long home. 



WILLIAM VAUGHAN 
H. J. W. G. 

WILLIAM VAUGHAN, the grandfather of Chester 
Perry, Jay Vaughan, the Rev. Frank Himes, Mrs. 
Philo Taylor and Mrs. C. C. Gould, was brought up by a 
sailor. Since he suffered from fever and ague in Oneida 
County, in 1808 he took a contract for land in township five, 
range two, upon the Holland Purchase. In 1809, when he 
came, there were only three families in the township, those 
of Eneas Gary and Charles and Heman Swift. He boarded 
with Charles Swift and cleared ten acres of the land now 
owned by Jay Vaughan. In April, 1810, he brought his wife 
and five children to their new home, a log house with a 
stone fireplace. 

19 



Rushford Families 

No man in the settlement was so strong as he to cHmb 
upon the corner of a log cabin when it was being built and 
put the logs in place. Once when his neighbors were without 
food he killed a deer and thus saved them from starving. 
He was able to make plows and drags and was so quick and 
strong that he could get a bushel and a half of potatoes' 
for a day's work when others received only a bushel. He 
used to tell of a race that took place when there was a 
neighborhood party. It was between oxen and horses over 
logs and against stumps. The oxen won. He was the 
first one in the settlement to capture a swarm of bees. Saw- 
ing off the part of the log containing the swarm, he carried 
it home and set it up in his yard, using it for a beehive a 
number of years. He built one of the first frame houses in 
town. He was eccentric, honest, and a reader of the Bible, 
although he made no profession of religion. 

His children were Betsey (Mrs. Stewart, later Mrs. 
Joseph Dolph), William, David, Daniel, Laurana (Mrs. Ran- 
dolph Himes), Abram, Julia (Mrs. Austin Perry), Henry 
and Charles. Charles was a drummer of unusual skill. He 
lived eighty-one years on the land taken up by his father. 
Five generations of Vaughans have lived on the same farm. 



ABEL BELKNAP 
H. J. W. G. 

ABEL BELKNAP first saw the Hght of day in Massa- 
chusetts the January before the battle of Concord. 
The latter part of 1809 he and his wife Clarissa Torry with 
four children set out for the Genesee country. Abel wished 
to remain at Rochester, but Clarissa said, "No." 



Abel Belknap 

"When a woman will, she will, 

You may depend on't, 
But when she won't, she won't, 

And that's the end on't." 

She didn't like the water ; she wanted to settle near a 
spring, so they traveled till they came to the sulphur spring 
near the Cuba road, on the farm now owned by James Wil- 
son, and there on the south side of the road they built their 
log house. January 20, 1810, there came to their home the 
first white child born in the settlement. They called her 
name Bethiah. Eight more children were born to them. All 
but two of the thirteen children lived to maturity. Sally 
(Mrs. John Bristol), born in 1828, was the youngest. 

Once the family heard a frightful sound under the 
floor of the house. Polly tried to have the dogs go down, 
but they would not go. At last Ezra, a strong, strapping 
fellow, came home. Taking his gun and the dogs he went 
down and killed a large gray wolf, probably driven there by 
hunger. A man once came to look at Abel Belknap's oxen. 
"How much do you ask for them?" he said. "One hundred 
dollars," was the reply. The man started to go. "Hold 
on there," called Mr. Belknap, "I can be beat down half." 
One day when Mrs. Belknap was alone several Indians 
stopped and asked for something to eat. She generously 
shared with them her fresh bread and doughnuts. Then 
they wanted salt pork, but she said, "No, you can't have 
any." They insisted, brandished knives and threatened, but 
she stood her ground. Then one of the Indians said, "Me 
like you, you spunky." 

In character Abel Belknap was of the Puritan type, 
upright, and strict and stern in his family. Novel-reading 
was one of the forbidden things. His daughter, Sally, bor- 



Rushford Families 

rowed novels and read them secretly. By mistake she left 
one where her father found it. He read it and became so 
interested that he never afterward said anything against 
novel-reading. He knew his Bible from cover to cover. 
Mention a passage of Scripture and he could quickly turn 
to it. He was one of the first assessors and one of the first 
inspectors of schools in the town of Rushford. He lived 
to be eighty-one years of age, surviving his wife by only 
seven weeks. 

His grandson, E. R. Belknap, son of Erastus, has done 
a commendable work for the prevention of cruelty to calves 
while they are being shipped to the city. 



TPIE GORDONS 
H. J. W. G. 

JAMES GORDON, "the root of all Gordons," was born in 
Leeds, Perth County, Scotland, in March, 1752. His 
father's name was James and his mother's name was Kastorn. 
He came to America with the British forces under Burgoyne. 
but he afterwards joined the Continental army. He mar- 
ried Jerusha Tarbell, sister of Edward Tarbell. She was 
born in Groton, Massachusetts, September 25, 1753. The 
cliildren of James and Jerusha Gordon were Thomas, Kas- 
torn, James, Tarbel, William, John, Wilson and Samuel. 
Thomas, Kastorn and Samuel never lived in Rushford. 
James and Jerusha Gordon came to Rushford in 181 5. The 
old Gordon farm in Cavendish, Vermont, was afterwards 
occupied by Joab and Isaac Eddy, relatives of Newbury 
Eddy who settled in Rushford. James Gordon died De- 
cember 9, 1844. Jerusha, his wife, died March 8, 1834. 




Jedediah Buckingham Gordon 



Rush ford Families 

James Gordon, Jr., was born in Mason, New Hamp- 
shire, October 30, 1783. January 10, 1808 he married Abi- 
gail Bowen, who was born in Woodstock, Connecticut. They 
came to Rushford from Cavendish, Vermont, in 181 1, and 
settled on the farm now owned and occupied by their son 
Bowen. James and Abigail Gordon were the parents of 
eleven children, all born in Rushford. The seven who 
grew to maturity were Nancy (Mrs. Isaac Rowley), born 
September 14, 181 1; Maria (Mrs. Eliab Benjamin); For- 
dyce, who married Sarah Smith; John D. Fletcher, who 
married Saphronia Adams; Mary Ann (Mrs. Baxter 
George) ; Laura (Mrs. John C. Nobles) ; Isaac Bowen, who 
married Malinda Rice of Sardinia; and Julia E. (Mrs. 
Tony Fletcher), who was born in 1834. Isaac Bowen of 
Rushford and Julie E. of Pony, Montana, are the only Hv- 
ing children. Fordyce made his home in Cuba. The grand- 
children of James and Abigail Gordon whose homes are in 
Rushford are James G. Benjamin; Frank and Lucy Gordon, 
children of Fletcher ; Dean Gordon and Mary Gordon Wil- 
mot, children of Bowen. 

Tarbel Gordon was born in Mason, New Hampshire, 
January 21, 1785. His wife, Lucy Lawrence, was born 
April 12, 1783. In 1810 he came to Rushford where he 
cleared some land and built a log cabin, then he returned to 
Vermont, coming again to Rushford, with his family, in 
181 1. He settled on lot 29. His land joined that of his 
brother John on the south, and that of his brother William 
on the north. The children of Tarbel and Lucy Gordon were 
Laura (Mrs. David Foy), born Feb. 7, 1806; Louisa (Mrs. 
Calvin Davenport of Randolph) ; William, who married Lois 
Gardner; Simon, born May 11, 181 1, who married Laura 
Griffin ; Ely, who married Martha Thing and after her death 
her sister Emily; Adaline (Mrs. David Huntington of Na- 

24 



The Gordons 

poll) ; Myra (Mrs. Lyford Leavens) ; Elvira (Mrs. Harry 
Howe) ; L.uthera (Mrs. Perry Corse) ; Salome (Mrs. Elijah 
Metcalf ) ; and Cyrus, who married Orra Morris of Lyndon. 

Tarbel Gordon "possessed a strong mind and a sur- 
prising clearness in opening and explaining Scripture." On 
the evening of February 20, 1845, Isaac Stone, who had pur- 
chased the William Gordon farm, called upon him and re- 
mained till nine o'clock. Their conversation was chiefly 
upon Christian purity, upon which Mr. Gordon talked with 
his usual cheerfulness and animation. It was startling the 
next day, when the word passed from mouth to mouth that 
"Tarbel Gordon is no more." The Tarbel Gordon farm 
remained in the family imtil June, 1898, when it was sold 
by Orra Gordon and her daughters to A. L. Ewell. It is now 
owned by Fred Baker whose daughter Ethel is a great-great- 
grandchild of Tarbel Gordon. The grandchildren of Tarbel 
and Lucy Gordon, now living in Rushford, are Mrs. Lucy 
Gordon Gant, daughter of William, Willis H. Leavens and 
Mrs. Flora Metcalf Thomas. 

William Gordon was born in Mason, New Hampshire, 
October 7, 1787. He married in Vermont Mira, daughter 
of Eneas Gary. They came to Rushford about 1810* and 
settled on the east road north of the present village, on the 
farm now owned by Romain Benjamin. Here June 12, 1810, 
was born Samuel, the first white male child born in Rush- 
ford. On the same farm September 7, 1812, Jedediah Buck- 
ingham was born ; the mother died the following November, 
but the young child was tenderly cared for by a neighbor, 
Mrs. Samuel H. Morgan, who then lived near the brook 
on the crossroad that extends from Hard Scrabble to Po- 
donque. William Gordon afterwards married Martha, sister 

*\A'illiam Gordon came to the township first in 1808 in com- 
pany with Eneas Gary to look the land over. 

25 



Rushford Families 

of his first wife. She was the mother of Lorenzo Dow, who 
married Orrisa Rawson of Lyndon, Kastorn (Mrs. Avery- 
Washburn ), Stanbury, who married Juha Short, Stoddard, 
who married Harriet Jacobs of Portage, Salome (Mrs. Rus- 
sell Bell), John Copeland, who married in Kansas, Mrs. 
Mary Nichols Sellows, whose early home was in New Hud- 
son, New York, John Wesley, who married Louise C. 
Springer, Asbury, who remained single, and Tarbel, who 
miarried EHzabeth Morrow. Late in life William Gordon 
married Mrs. Laura Wilson Woods, widow of Daniel 
Woods. 

He brought into Rushford the first bake-oven and the 
llrst cook-stove ever seen in the town. His home for many 
years was in Gordonville. Here, near the end of the road, 
about 1830, he built a carding-mill, to which in time was 
added dressing of home-made cloth, and finally weaving of 
cloth. One hundred yards of flannel and fullcloth were 
n^ade daily. People came many miles to this mill, bringing 
Iheir wool to exchange for cloth. In the spring of 1842, 
Avery Washburn entered into partnership in the woolen 
mill with the firm of W., S. & J. B. Gordon. The name of 
the firm was afterwards changed to Gordon & Washburn. 
In 1873 when the woolen mill burned, it was owned by J. 
B. Gordon & Son.* East of the woolen mill, William Gor- 
don built a sawmill. In 1836 southwest of his home, and 
across Caneadea Creek, he built a grist mill. At a later 
period, the name of the firm owning the grist mill was J. B., 
J. W. Gordon & Co. When it burned in 1883, it was owned 
by J. B. Gordon & Son.f 

In politics William Gordon became an Abolitionist. He 



*Albert. 
fFred G. 



26 



The Gordons 

was for many years a prominent member and a useful local 
preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In June, 1829, 
at the twentieth session of the Genesee Conference, at Perry, 
New York, he was ordained deacon. He was noted for his 
generosity; the needy, the unfortunate always found in 
William Gordon a friend. His home was on the corner 
near the bridge; across the road, farther east, in the first 
house lived his daughter Kastorn ; Samuel lived just beyond 
in the house now' owned by Mrs. Margaret Bullock ; in the 
next house but one lived Jedediah ; on the main road not 
far from the corner Stanbury built his home; and farther 
north in the house now owned by Frank Fuller, Lorenzo 
lived. Of William Gordon's eleven children only Jedediah, 
Stanbury and Wesley remained in Rushford ; the others 
sought their fortunes in the West, Samuel, Salome and Lo- 
renzo in Illinois, and Kastorn. Stoddard, Copeland, Asbury 
and Tarbel in Kansas. 

William Gordon died at his home in Gordonville, April 
5, 1870. 

When Jedediah was a young man, people would say to 
him, "Jed. why don't you get married?" He would reply, 
"I am afraid if I married in Rushford I would marry one 
of my relatives." Attending the Baptist Church one Sun- 
day, while at school in Middlebury, he was strangely drawn 
to one of the alto singers in the choir. He afterwards sought 
an introduction to the young woman. Miss Juliette Hovey, 
who, February 21, 183Q, became his wife. Sometime after 
their marriage, when Mrs. Gordon was visiting her rela- 
tives, one of them said to her, "Juliette, what is your hus- 
band's name?" "Jedediah Buckingham Gordon," was the 
reply. "Where did he get the name Buckingham?" said 
her relative. Tracing back they found that the great-grand- 
mothers of J. B. and his wife were twin sisters. 

27 



Rushford Families 

In the presence of J. B. Gordon, a man was once re- 
lating something removed from the truth. Turning to Mr. 
Gordon he said, "You remember, don't you, Mr. Gordon?" 
"Some things I remember," he repHed, "but I don't remem- 
ber things that never happened." He was not a member of 
the Methodist Church, but the following little incident will 
show his attitude. The Rev. W. B. Wagoner said that one 
hot Sunday when he was preaching in Rushford, the con- 
gregation seemed listless, even J. B. Gordon did not give 
his usual attention, so he resolved to repeat the sermon at 
some future time. After the repetition, Mr. Gordon came 
to him and said, "I am glad you preached that sermon 
again, I heard it this time." 

Erect in stature, perhaps standing with his thumbs in 
the armholes of his vest, his hair slightly gray, his face 
smooth, his countenance lighted up with interest in aflfairs, 
a man whom everybody knew and whom everybody re- 
spected — such was J. B. Gordon when he had passed four- 
score. 

Ellen E. Gordon, Fred G. Gordon and Mrs. Verna Gor- 
don Tarbell are the only grandchildren of William Gordon 
who live in Rushford. 

John Gordon was born in Cavendish, Windsor County, 
Vermont, August 4, 1789. In January 24, 1810, he married 
Harmony, daughter of Luther L. Woodworth. Early the 
next year they started for the Holland Purchase where 
they settled in township five, range two, on the south- 
ern part of lot twenty-nine. Here were born James, 
who married Polly Bresler ; Luther, who married Florilla 
Cooley of Attica, New York, April 24, 1848; Matilda (Mrs. 
George Green), who later lived in Fairport, Monroe County; 
Walter, who remained single; and Wilson L., whose first 

28 




Daniel Clark Woods 



Rush ford P\imilies 

wife was Marcia Remington. John Gordon was a farmer, 
a brickmaker and a lumberman. Before 1830 he and his 
brothers, WilHam and Wilson, owned a sawmill at Kellogg- 
ville. He was the most unconventional of men; his dress 
and his pleasures were such as pleased him best. In the 
forties his sons, James and Luther, were among Rushford's 
hustling business men. They were afterwards engaged in 
the lumber business in Brockport; the partnership con- 
tinued till 1870. Walter became a Methodist minister. Wil- 
son L. of Topeka, Kansas, who was born in 1828, is the 
only living child. John Gordon died February 12, 1842. 
The land on which he settled is owned by his grand-daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Alice Gordon Hooker of Fairport. 

Wilson Gordon was born in Cavendish, Vermont, June 
4, 1794. He came to Rushford, March 20, 1812, and took 
up land below East Rushford on Caneadea Creek. After his 
land was partly cleared, he married Lydia Pratt, who was 
the mother of his four children: — Sophia (Mrs. William 
Merryfield), born September 23, 1818; Jerusha (Mrs. 
Newell McCall) ; Thomas L., who married Mary Lewis; 
and Orson, who never married. Thomas and Orson died 
of fever in January, 1864, followed by Mary, wife of 
Thomas, in February. Lydia Pratt Gordon died in 1859. 
Wilson Gordon's second wife was Paulina Walker; after 
her death he married Mrs. Elizabeth Ward. Mr. Gordon, 
beside being a farmer, was a lumberman, having a sawmill 
on his farm. The land on which he settled is now owned by 
Mrs. Fannie McCall whose children are great-grandchildren 
of Wilson Gordon. Wilson Gordon died February 27, 1879. 

Of the five Gordon brothers who settled in Rushford, 
all but John were Methodists, and many were the efiforts to 
get John converted. In 1834 "the Gordons were many and 

30 



Joseph us ^'oung 

strong" ill the Methodist Church. Though there were a 
number of people in the cluirch who were opposed to the 
use of musical instruments in worship, the bass viol was 
introduced into the choir. When James Gordon heard the 
music, he turned around and looking at the choir, said, 
"Ahem, fiddlin' and no dancin'." Tarbel Gordon went out 
during the performance, but returned to hear the sermon. 
William Gordon said, "We'll fiddle and sing the twentieth 
hymn." The bass viol disappeared from the choir. 

The Gordons did much in the development of the 
town of Rush ford. 

JOSEPHUS YOUNG 
H. J. W. G. 

OCTOBER 13, 1808, Esther, daughter of Eneas Gary, 
became the wife of Josephus Young. She was seven- 
teen years of age and he twenty-six at the time of their 
marriage. In 1810 they left Weathersfield, Windsor County, 
Vermont, with an ox team and in twenty-two days reached 
Rushford. To them were born twelve children. Winthrop 
G., the oldest, was born in 1809. The others who survived 
infancy were William P., Esther (Mrs. John G. Osborn), 
Harriet (Mrs. Albert W. Bannister), and Stephen. 

Josephus Young signed his name Joseph, but he was 
called Cephas. He located on lot thirty-one, north of Eneas 
Gary's, but later owned land on the Caneadea Road, joining 
that of Luther Woodworth, and kept tavern in a building 
long since burned, that stood on the west side of Upper 
Street on land now owned by Mrs. James G. Benjamin. 
According to all reports it was well patronized. Five times 
town meeting was held in this tavern, the first in 1818, the 



31 



Rush ford Families 

last in 1828. December i, 1819, he joined the Rnshford 
Masonic Lodge. He was a quiet, peaceable man, living to be 
sixty-five years of age. His wife Esther lived to be over 
ninety. 

His sons were all farmers. Winthrop, who married 
the widow Snow, served his town two years as Supervisor. 
Stephen, who never married, died when only thirty-three 
} ears of age ; he was the first toll-gate keeper at the Rush- 
ford end of the plank road. The toll-gate stood near the 
site of Mrs. Luther Thomas's house. The children of 
Josephus and Esther Young passed their lives in Rushford, 
with the exception of Mrs. Bannister, who after living some 
years in Churchville, New York, moved to Pasadena, Cali- 
fornia. The daughter, Esther, died when eighty-one years 
of age. We have never ceased to miss her sitting by the 
window or her friendly greeting when we entered. Mrs. 
Minnie Osborn Jagers is the only descendant of Josephus 
Young who lives in Rushford. 



THE WOODSES 
Clarissa Woods Calkins 

TEN sons and daughters of Daniel and Ruhama (Ely) 
Woods, all born in Windsor, Vermont, came to Rush- 
ford, New York, when the country was new. Clarissa was 
born in 1783; Sally, who remained in Vermont, in 1785; 
Lucy, in 1788; Laura, in 1791 ; Daniel, in 1792; Ely, in 
1794; Riley, in 1798; William, in 1800; Maila, in 1802; Al- 
bert, in 1804; and Louisa, in 1806. 

Daniel Woods married Laura Wilson in Rushford, 
February, 1810. His first frame house was north of the en- 
trance to the Podonque Cemetery. No buildings are there 

32 




Mrs. Ely (Nancy Gary) Woods 

The first white woman who stayed in the town 
of Rushford, N. Y., over night. 



Ritshford Families 

now. In later years he bnilt the tirst honse north of the 
Podonque cheese factory. His farm lay each side of the 
road toward Centerville and the road toward Hume. Uncle 
Daniel was a host spiritually. He could sing the sweetest 
and pray the loudest, and like Daniel of old he was willing 
the whole world should hear him. His children were Lucia 
Spencer (Mrs. O. D. Benjamin). Myra Ann (Mrs. Thomas 
Eaton), Leverett Ethelbert, who married Ann Hill, Rebecca 
Ruhama (Mrs. Randolph Heald), Sarah Louisa (Mrs. John 
Knaggs), Lucy Lovett (Mrs. Edward Hill), Daniel Clark, 
who married Armena Peck, Laura Cornelia ( Mrs. Edwin 
Weaver), Milton McCall, who married Emily Fuller, and 
Mary Jane (Mrs. Frank Warren). All of his children were 
born in Rushford except Rebecca R. and Sarah L. who were 
born in Caneadea. 

Ely Woods taught school in Caneadea. When the Mc- 
Calls built their grist mill at East Rushford, he assisted in 
building the dam which in part remains. He bought a 
farm just north of his brother Daniel's, and his first frame 
house was a little farther north than Daniel's, near where 
the old butternut tree stands. He later built a house on the 
Hume road, as his farm crossed both roads. His house was 
the first house south of the schoolhouse. He and his brother, 
Daniel, with others, built a sawmill in the gorge just east 
of his second house, and sawed logs there for ?ome years. 
He married Nancy Gary, the first white woman who came 
to Rushford, with whom he lived in harmony over fifty 
years. He was class leader for many years and kept a 
record of those who attended the class meetings of the Rush- 
ford Methodist Church, Sunday noons. He also held a 
prayer meeting in the schoolhouse Sunday evenings, which 
was well attended for years. He was gifted in prayer and 
sang the good old hymns in such a way as to convince the 

34 



The Woodses 

hearers that they were the sentiment of his heart. His wife 
was there too and sang the high tenor which sounded so 
well to me when a child. She was present at the Methodist 
Clnirch without missing a Sunday for eighteen years. Their 
children were William Watson, who married Harriett B. 
Drury and after her death Eleanor Blanchard ; Caroline 
Gary (Mrs. John Persons); Maila (Mrs. John DuBell) ; 
Percy (Mrs. Asa Worden) ; Esther, who married Gilbert 
Richardson and after his death John W. Eldridge ; Catha- 
rine (Mrs. William H. Shaw); Wilbur Fisk, who married 
Elizabeth Claus and after her death Emma Glaus ; and Frank- 
Eneas, who married Mary M. Huff. 

Laura Woods married David Board. 
Riley Woods married in Chester, Vermont, November 
I, 1822, Abagail, daughter of John and Esther Heald. His 
home was close by the entrance to the Podonque Cemetery. 
His children were Daniel Heald, who married Elvira Lam- 
berson; Albert, who married Polly Lamberson ; William 
Riley, who married Mary F. Champlin ; Fanny Savage; 
Mary Caroline (Mrs. Joseph Vinson); John Randolph; 
Edwin Skeels; Ann Eliza (Mrs. Stephen Tobias); and 
George, who married Caroline Gardner of Illinois. 

William Woods married in Weathersfield. Vermont, 
June, 1824, Rosannah, daughter of Richard and Marian 
Farwell. After coming to Rushford they settled on the 
farm south of Calvin Leavens' and east of Mr. Board's. 
Their house was near the corner where the crossroad joins 
the East Rushford road. To them were born in Rushford 
six children: Marcia (Mrs. John A. Wells) ; Marian (Mrs. 
Alonzo Older) : Richard, who married, in Moscow, Phebe 
E. Grant ; Maria (Airs. Dalzell) ; John ; and William Wilson, 
who married, in Hinsdale, Emily D. Searle. After the death 



35 



Rushford Families 

of his first wife. William Woods married, in 1853, Philena 
Peck. He died in Franklinville. 

Albert Woods married in Windsor, Vermont, April 2, 
1825, Betsey, daughter of Ebenezer Kendall. Leaving his 
wife with her parents he came to Rushford ; she died before 
his return. He married in Rushford Emily Lyman, sister 
of the late Alonzo Lyman. They had one child, Wiley. 
Albert Woods afterwards married, in Rochester, Abigail 
McCord Hagaman. Their children, born in Somerset, 
Michigan, were Laura Ruhama and Emma Phebe (Mrs. 
J. De Con). Albert Woods died in Quincy, Michigan. 

Lucy Woods married Calvin Leavens. 

Maila and Louisa Woods were unmarried sisters who 
came from Vermont with Mr. and Mrs. Leavens. Maila 
became a first-class teacher and founded a school in Kalama- 
zoo, Michigan. After she was too old to teach she came 
back to Rushford and died at the home of her nephew, Clark 
Woods. Louisa was a tailoress and for years owned and 
occupied the first house north of Frank Fuller's in Gor- 
donville. 

In 1804 Clarissa married Thomas Richards in Wind- 
sor, Vermont. Their children were Edward Palmer, who, 
in Broome County, married Betsey Launders ; Hallam, who 
in Monroe County, married Catharine Wilcox ; James Madi- 
son, who married Hester Ann Bannister ; Mary Palmer 
(Mrs. C. G. Leavens); Sarah Gardner, unmarried; Lucy 
Leavens (Mrs. Albert Gallatin) ; and Clarissa Woods (Mrs. 
Oscar Board). The children were all born in Windsor, Ver- 
mont, except Lucy L. and Clarissa W., who were born in 
Lisle, Broome County, New York, where Thomas Richards 
died in 1822. After his death Mrs. Richards moved to 
Rushford and occupied a house on the corner opposite her 

36 



The Woodses 

brother William's, not far north of Jacob Van Dusen's. 
Clarissa Richards died in Farmersville, New York. 



Daniel Woods was a local preacher of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. In 1837 he was elected deacon. Cona- 
ble's History of the Genesee Conference describes him as 
a large, fine-appearing, good man. 

Only two of his children, Mrs. Cornelia Weaver, who 
lives in Podonqtie, and Mr. Clark Woods, who lives in 
Rush ford village, are now living. Mr, Clark Woods, 
although past four-score years, is still (1910) able to start 
the hymns in prayer meeting. 

Of the ten Woods bj-others and sisters who settled in 
Rushford, Clarissa, Lucy, Laura, Daniel and Riley have de- 
scendants in the town. Frank Board is a grandchild of 
Clarissa and Laura; W. H. Leavens is a grandchild of Lucy; 
Mrs. Sylvia Williams, daughter of Lucia, Mrs. Myra Litch- 
ard, daughter of Leverett, John R. Heald, son of Rebecca, 
Mrs. Ella Claus, Mrs. Jennie Gordon, Jason, Grant and 
Wilson Woods, children of Clark, Charles Weaver, son of 
Cornelia, and D. W. and Newman Woods, sons of Milton, 
are grandchildren of Daniel Woods ; and Frank Woods, son 
of Albert, is a grandson of Riley. 

When the Woodses came to Rushford, they brought 
with them the gift of music and it is here yet, even to the 
fourth generation. Through all the years it has been a 
cheer and an uplift to a multitude of people. It has been 
heard in the church choir, the prayer meeting, the class 
meeting, the social gathering, the public entertainments, 
the orchestra and the band. 

.37 




Marena Woods 



Aliraham J. Lyon 

Joshua and Rebecca (Spencer) Wilson, whose daugh- 
ter married Daniel Woods, came to Rushford from Wind- 
sor, Vermont, in 1810. Their three sons, Simon. Freeman 
S., and r.evvis, afterwards settled in Caneadea. 



ABRAHAM J. LYON 
H. J. W^ G. 

ABRAHAM J. LYON, one of eleven children, was born- 
in W^allingford, Connecticut, in 1789. His wife, Mary 
( Bratt ) Lyon, whom he familiarly called Bolly, was born 
in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1792. They came to Rush- 
ford from Nelson, Madison County, about 1810. and set- 
tled on lot thirty-five, on a farm which until recently has 
been owned by some member of the Lyon family. Their 
coming to the uplands was due to the prevalence of fever 
and ague on the Genesee fiats. Their first home was a 
bark shanty, their second a log cabin, and their third a 
frame house. On this farm four children were born to 
them, Ebenezer P., Eliza A. (Mrs. Orrin Phelps), Emeline 
(Mrs. J. Nelson Kingsbury), and Merritt. 

April 24, 1818. Abraham J. Lyon was appointed Cap- 
tain of a battalion of infantry in the County of Allegany 
"whereof George P. Ketchum, Esquire, was Major Com- 
mandant." The appointment was made by "DeWitt Clin- 
ton, Esquire, Governor of New York State, General Com- 
mander-in-Chief of all the Militia, with the advice and con- 
sent of the Council of Appointment at our City of Albany."' 
Mr. Lyon was a pettifogger or lawyer. His judgment 
must have been good as his services were in frequent de- 
mand in different parts of the county. He held the office 
of Justice of the Peace more than thirty years. February 

30 



Rushford Families 

i8, 1840, the Senate having consented, William H. Seward, 
Governor of New York State, appointed Abraham J. Lyon 
"Judge of the County Courts of the County of Allegany, 
in the place of John Collins, whose term of office would 
expire on the eighteenth day of March next." After this 
appointment he was usually spoken of as "Judge" Lyon. 

When he was called to marry a couple, his daughter 
Emeline would sometimes accompany him, riding behind 
him on the same horse. The marriage fee would be, per- 
haps, a pig. Once, when intending to be absent from home, 
he hired a man to break flax for him. When he returned 
he said to the man, whom he had boarded, "Would you be 
willing to take for pay all the flax you have broke?" He 
replied, "I would if you would give me enough leather for 
a pair of boot tops, besides." It is said that there is now 
a general desire for an easy job with big pay, but there were 
traces of it in the good old times "when people hadn't 
learned to cheat." Once when Abraham J. Lyon was try- 
ing a law suit the counsel for the plaintiff said that Mr. 
Lyon, his opponent, had been to his house and begged for 
something to eat and cried. "Yes," said Mr. Lyon, "I did 
go to his house and beg for something to eat, and I did cry, 
and you would have cried too if you had seen what I got." 

In a letter dated February 27, 1838, written by Abraham 
J. Lyon to his daughter Eliza, then in Far West, Caldwell 
County, Missouri, one may read the words, "I have settled 
in two new counties. I know all about it. People set much 
more by each other than they do in an old country and take 
more comfort." He was sunny in disposition and wanted 
everybody to have a "good time." When his daughter 
would correct her child he would say, "Sis, I wouldn't quar- 
rel with a little child." He doted on circuses and enjoyed 
going to them with his grandchildren. After his daughter 

40 



Thomas Pratt 

was converted she refused to let her Httle girl go to the 
circus. Being displeased, he said, "Sis, what a religion, to 
vent it on a Httle child !" He was so accommodating that he 
would unhitch from a drag to lend it to a neighbor. Noted 
for his generosity, he said a man was to blame for nothing 
but being stingy. 

The late Mrs. Mary Ann Charles of Cuba resembled 
her grandfather, Abraham J. Lyon. Mrs. J. G. Benjamin 
and Martin and Abraham J. Lyon are his grandchildren 
who reside in Rush ford. Abram Benjamin is his latest 
namesake. 



T 



THOMAS PRATT 

H. J. W. G. 

HOi\L'\S PRATT, better known as "Uncle Tom," came 
to Rushford from Madison County when about six- 
teen years of age. He settled on the land now owned by 
Hosea B. Ackerly. This and the land now owned by Drew 
M. Seeley had been granted by the Holland Land Company 
to Ebenezer Lyon. He was drowned while returning to 
Madison County, so the land was taken by his brother, 
Abraham J. Lyon, and part of it made over to Thomas 
Pratt. He cleared nearly all of his farm alone, taking corn 
meal pudding with him to the woods. At noon he would 
listen for the cow bell, milk the cow, and have warm milk 
and cold pudding for dinner. 

Once when his boon companion lay dead drunk on the 
floor. Uncle Tom, dancing the pigeonwing around him with 
a broad-axe in his hand, said he was measuring him for a 
coffin. But a change came. Mr. and ]\Irs. Thirds lost a 
young child to whom he was much attached. It seemed to 

41 



Rush ford Families 

him as if he could not endure it. He jumped onto a horse 
and rode for miles. While riding the thought came to him 
that he ought to get ready to meet the child ; this led to his 
conversion. He became a Freewill Baptist preacher,* 
working on his farm during the week and preaching Sun- 
days. He had a maiden sister who kept house for him. 
She needed lielp and Sally Herrick from the "River" came. 
The bachelor of fifty became enamored and Thomas Pratt 
and Sally Herrick were made one. much to the discom- 
fiture of the sister. It was "Uncle Tom's" ambition to be- 
come worth ten thousand dollars. By labor and economy he 
surpassed his goal and accumulated quite a property for the 
time. 

At tlie Semi-Centennial he spoke with so much power 
that peojile today speak in praise of his address. Everyone 
was listening so intently you could have heard a pin drop. 
People were so moved that tears streamed down their faces. 

When old and feeble his housekeeper thought he ought 
to have some stimulant, but he said, "Ma'tha. Ala'tha. you 
don't know the blood," and refused to have it. He died in 
1873 '" the seventy-ninth year of his age. Mrs. Abraham 
J. Lyon, Mrs. Wilson Gordon and Mrs. Oliver Cromwell 
Bennett were his sisters and Morton Pratt was his brother. 
His only child, George Pratt, is living in Lowellville, Ohio. 

THE BENNETTS 
Allan H. Giljaert 

OLIN'ER CROMWELL BENNETT came to Rushford 
in 1812. He passed by the flats to escape the frosts 
and settled near what is now the site of the house of Charles 

*He was the first pastor of the Freewill Baptist Church at 
Rawson. 

42 



The Bennetts 

Baker. Though he was born in Follet, \'ermont, and had 
hved in Connecticut he came to Rushford from Cayuga 
County, New York. When a Revolutionary soldier he was 
present at the execution of Major Andre. The noble bearing 
of that unfortunate English officer so moved young Bennett, 
then twenty years old, that he named his second son, born 
in 1/88, Andre. 

Cromwell Bennett had studied medicine in his youth 
but he became tired of the human family and practiced vet- 
erinary medicine. The first sawmill on Rush Creek was 
built by Cromwell Bennett, who spent all one summer going 
to Vermont after the mill irons. In pioneer days cows wore 
bells and ran in common. Cromwell Bennett once paid the 
"White Woman" at Gardeau three dollars for taking care 
of one of his that had strayed. 

One of those elected to office at the first town meeting 
in Rushford was Cromwell Bennett. Though a Democrat 
he was elected Supervisor at the second town meeting and 
was twice re-elected. More than once he held three town 
offices at the same time. He was also Justice of the Peace 
as early as 1820, when Justices were not elected at town 
meetings. In 1818 he was one of three judges in the county 
courts in Allegany County. On April 8, 181 7, Cromwell 
Bennett was one of the five who were the first initiated by 
the Rushford Masonic Lodge. His third wife, Zeruah 
Pratt,* mother of four of his fourteen children, he married 
in Allegany County. Seventy-five years ago he closed his 
eyes to earthlv things and now lies buried in Lyman Barber's 
meadow, not far from his pioneer home. 

In the year* 181 1 .\ndre Bennett, the sixth man to take 
up land in Rushford, drove his ox team from Cayuga 

^Formerly wife of Wm. Thirds. 

43 



" Rushford Families 

County and settled on Taylor Hill, at the Six Corners.* 
Andre, who was twenty-three years old at the time, brought 
with him his wife, Rachel Orcutt Bennett, and their daugh- 
ter, Sophronia, born in Cayuga County the year before. 

When the War of 1812 broke out, he enlisted and went 
north, leaving his wife and her child alone in the woods. 
On the night of September 10, 1813, Rachel Bennett in her 
anxiety for her husband paced the floor all night, for that 
day she had heard the cannonading of the battle of Lake 
Erie. But Andre Bennett's danger was not from the Brit- 
ish, for he was sick of a fever so severe that he crawled 
to the water's edge to cool himself. While her husband 
was away in the army, Rachel went through the woods to 
the home of William Vaughan where her son, Bushnell, 
was born. 

Andre Bennett was well read, especially in history. 
One might infer something concerning his religious belief 
from his occasional attendance at the Universalist Church. 
ITis daughter Sophia (Mrs. Nelson Hammond) said that 
when in her childhood she came home from meeting terri- 
fied by descriptions of hell, Daddy comforted her by telling 
her that there was no such thing as a lake of fire. One of 
his sons, Elhanan Winchester, born in 1823, was named 
after a Universalist preacher well known in New England. 
This sont and another, Charles P., born in 1820, are still 
Hving. After the death of his youngest daughter, Jeanette, 
he and his wife adopted Aseneth, daughter of John Orcutt. 
Andre Bennett was independent in thought and life, not 
disturbed by the fashions of the world. If he wanted to 
wear a buckskin vest with ten-cent silver pieces for but- 
tons, he did it. He never forgot an ofiPense or a kindness. 

*Formerlj^ six roads met at the Six Corners. One was given 
up years ago. Another has recently been abandoned. 
iDied July 9, 1909. 

44 



The Bennetts 

The following story of an incident at general training which 
has been handed down in the family, is given as follows 
in the manuscript of Moses Ward: 

"We were warned to appear on the Swift place, two 
miles south of where the village of Rush ford now stands. 
My brother Salmon wished me to go and fill his place. The 
day came; I took his rifle and went. It was eight miles that 
I had to go. Soon after I got there we were called to fall 
into line. As soon as the line was formed the general offi- 
cers rode along the line before us. A man at my right 
hand — the second man from me — said, 'There comes Ken- 
nedy.' He said that he was a soldier under the man on the 
lines in the war that had just passed, and had been shame- 
fully abused by him; and that he would make him confess 
before he left the ground, if it cost him his life. I looked 
at the man that was speaking, and thought he meant what 
he said. He was a man, I should say, that would weigh 
two hundred, of a dark complexion and stout-built, and his 
eyes looked terrific. While he was speaking it was ordered 
to pay attention to the call of the roll, and all was silent, 
the roll was called and we were ordered to file ofif in platoons 
and were soon marched out into the field. Thence we were 
ordered back to where we were formed in the morning. 
We were ordered to form a hollow square. It was soon done, 
and the officers were in the center. The man at my right 
hand, that had spoken so earnestly in the morning, said to the 
man between me and him, 'Take my gun.' He took it. I 
asked him who he was. He said that the man's name was 
Andre Bennett. Bennett went with a quick step up to the 
officer and said, 'Do you know me?' I heard no more; they 
talked together, I should say about a minute, and then Ben- 
nett stepped back a little distance. The officer took off his 
hat and called the attention of all, and said he was an officer 

45 



Rush ford Families 

on the lines, and that Mr. Bennett, the man that stood be- 
fore him was a soldier under him, and he had not treated 
liim as an officer should but had abused him — 'and in the 
presence of this assembly I ask his forgiveness.' Mr. Ben- 
nett bowed and returned to his place in the ranks." (The 
foregoing extract was taken with slight alterations from 
■'History of Allegany County, New York," 1879.) 

Andre Bennett was younger at the time of his death 
than many of the early settlers but older than John Gordon 
of Matthew P. Cady. His tombstone in the West Cemetery 
bears the inscription. "Andre Bennett, died March 19, 1851, 
aged 63 years." 

Reuben Bennett, the oldest son of Cromwell Bennett, 
was born at the foot of Rattlesnake Hill, near Canterbury, 
Connecticut. He came from Cayuga County in 18 12 and 
settled on the farm later owned by Thomas Baker. 

A rail fence which he built in front of his house is 
still in use, though the house has long since disappeared. 
After browsing thirteen winters on Rush Creek, he moved 
to Mount Monroe where he built a log cabin near the pres- 
ent home of his son, Milton Bennett. Here Milton was 
born and rocked in a sap trough. Charles Strong, grand- 
son of Reuben Bennett's son Oliver, lives on the farm of 
his grandfather. Although his father and his brother Andre 
were Democrats, Reuben was a Whig. He was elected In- 
spector of Schools at Rushford's first town meeting. Early 
in June in 1859, one severe frost was followed by another 
a week later. When others with lack of heart were plant- 
ing again, Reuben Bennett went ofif fishing. 

In 1820 he ploughed up a .Spanish dollar bearing the 
date 1805. Milton Bennett has been keeping it for a mar- 
riage fee, but the time to use it has not yet come. Still he 

46 



Samson Hardy 

lias not been completely deprived of one of the advantages 
of niatrimon}', that of laying things onto a wife. One day 
when a peddler cv.Wed on this bachelor, Milton said he 
would ask his wife, who was down cellar, to come up. Step- 
ping to the cellar door he called several times. Then turn- 
ing to the iJcddler he said, "She don't want anything, she 
won't come up." 

In the year 1852, the inhabitants of Rushford were 
alarmed by the screeching of a panther. Uncle Tom Pratt 
went out and called. "Bos, bos." The people who went out 

I with their guns heard the sound first in one place, then in 

another. One man said he was not afraid because it did 
not make any tracks. It was finally discovered that the 
panther was nothing but a thin, tapering piece of board 
with beveled edges, tied by a three-foot string to a pole. 
When this was whirled rapidly, then drawn through the air. 
it made an unearthly sound. The person having it would 
then run to another place. One night the runner mistook 
the width of a stream and did not land on the opposite bank 
as he expected. Only one person in town was angry over 
the joke which was perpetrated by two grandsons of Oliver 
f| Cromwell Bennett. 

SAAISON HARDY 
H. J. W. G. 

IN 181 1, Samson Flardy and his wife, Mary Spaulding, 
with their nine children came to Rushford from Cav- 
endish, \>rmont. The children, all born in Cavendish, were 
Polly (Mrs. Samuel iJpham), born in 1787; Rachel (Mrs. 
Blakesley) ; Lucy (Mrs. Matthew P. Cady) ; Hannah (Mrs. 
Ezra Nott) ; Lucinda (Mrs. Dutton) ; Stephen, born in 

47 



Rushford Families 

1797; Samson, born in 1799; Betsey (Mrs. M. LaFayette 
Ely) ; and Rebecca (Mrs. Phillips). Mr. Hardy bought of 
the Holland Land Company two hundred acres, at two dol- 
lars and twenty-five cents an acre, on lot thirty-seven, 
which corners in the center of the town. The Baptist 
Church stands on what was a part of his land. Samson 
Hardy kept tavern on what is now the south corner of 
Lewellen and Buffalo Streets. He, also, owned and ran a 
distillery. In his tavern the second town meeting was held; 
here, also, in September, 1820, was held a meeting of the 
Baptist Church. Mrs. Mary Hardy was a member of a 
Baptist Church in Chester, Vermont. 

Samson Hardy is one of the soldiers of the War of 
the Revolution, buried in Rushford. His tombstone in the 
First Burying Ground is an ornamental flagstone with this 
inscription — "In memory of Samson Hardy who died Nov. 
29th, 1 83 1, AE. yy years & 11 months. 

"Behold and see, as you pass by ; 
As you are now, so once was I ; 
As I am now, so you must be. 
Prepare for death and follow me." 

Stephen Hardy lived at Hardy's Corners ; and the place 
still bears his name. 

Samson Hardy, Jr., in 1823 married Saphronia Wright 
from Westford, Massachusetts. At the time of her mar- 
riage she was living in Rushford with a sister, Mrs. John 
Adams, who was a neighbor of the Hardys. The children 
of Samson and Saphronia Hardy were Rolon, Susan, Ar- 
thur, born in 1827, Maria (Mrs. Andrew Kimball), Lucy 
(Mrs. D. C. Butts), Webster, born in 1832, Saphronia 
(i Mrs. H. A. Kimball, 2 Mrs. D. D. Persons), Asa W., 
born in 1837, Martha (Mrs. A. H. Claus), and Mary. "As 
arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of 

48 



The Bannisters 

the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of 
them." In 1836. when Elder Absalom Miner was pastor, 
Samson and Saphronia Hardy were received into the Bap- 
tist Church. Samson Hardy, Jr., was usually spoken of as 
Col. Hardy 'since he had held the office of colonel in the 
militia. During the administration of James Buchanan he 
was postmaster in Rushford. 

Arthur, Webster and Asa all settled on farms in Rush- 
ford. Mrs. A. H. Claus, who resides in Rushford village,, 
is the only one living of the ten children. L. E. Hardy 
and Grace Claus Taylor are the grandchildren of Col. Sam- 
son Hardy who reside in town. 

The Hardy s have always added much to the musical life 
of the town. They have been found in the band, the church 
choirs, the orchestra, in vocal quartets and as organists of 
dififerent organizations. 

Note — Alarquis La Fayette Ely, bom in West Windsor, Vt., 
was the son of Abishai Ely ("Uncle Bish Ely") and the grandfather 
of Mrs. Blanche Bixhv Mnlliken. 



THE BANNISTERS 
A. W. Bannister 

MY grandfather, Silas Bannister, saw some service in 
the War of the Revolution, as attested by the cap- 
ture of an English account book, bound in rawhide and 
stamped with English coat of arms. It was opened by 
Major Gordon, July 20, 1776, in command of a company 
of "artificers" building sheds for military stores at St. John's 
and Chambli. It has been in my possession for the past 
half century, and has in it this obituary written by his son. 
Warren: "Silas Bannister, a friend of Literature and Sci- 

49 



Rushford Families 

'ence, a belie\'er in Christian Theology and Gospel Ethics. 
JDied in peace April 29, 1827 — Aged 75 years." 

The home of Silas and Thankful Ely Bannister at 
Windsor, V^ermont, was the native home of six sons and six 
-daughters, all of whom lived to mature age. The home had 
;a local reputation as the "Methodist Tavern" — a sort of 
headquarters or resting place for circuit riders in the early 
•days of Methodism. One of the sons, Warren, joined the 
troop and won something of name and fame in that line. 
Tradition says he planted a grindstone at the center of the 
town of Rushford, which, although not a conspicuous land- 
:mark, may still be in place. 

His brother Roderick made a long mark, illustrating 
a mode of travel a century ago, in driving a pair of steers 
and sled from Windsor to Rushford in the winter of 1812. 
He cleared up a farm on the west road just at the outskirts 
of the present village ; the land in later years was owned 
by Israel Thompson. Pliny and Wayne also joined the 
colony. Wayne and Warren's wife were among the first 
burials in the west side cemetery. Roderick married Lydia 
Place in 1819, and later he and Pliny owned mills at the 
Gorge of Caneadea Creek where they lived neighbors for a 
generation. There was my boyhood home. I do not re- 
member the incident, but tradition says my father, Roder- 
ick, took me to the kitchen to show me to the hired man 
December i, 1825. My only married sister, Mrs. Jonathan 
Charles, was born in Rushford in 1820. 

We reverently cherish the memory of that noble band 
who endured the privations and hardships incident to 
pioneer life; although, no doubt, there was compensating 
novelty in the simple life, and a sustaining enthusiasm in 
building homes in a wilderness surrounded by wild beasts 
and roaming bands of Indians ; but I must leave to abler 

50 



The Bannisters 

pens than mine the portrayal of those sturdy virtues that 
have left their impress upon the intellectual, moral and spir- 
itual life, not only of Rushford but of Western New York. 



THE BANNISTERS 
Amelia Bannister De Berczy 

WINDSOR, Vermont, noted for its staunch patriotism 
and resolute citizens, became interested in the in- 
ducements the Holland Purchase Company held out to set- 
tlers to buy their lands in Western New York, and their 
young men who had grown to manhood sharing the hard- 
ships and industry of their parents embraced the plan as a 
desirable method of getting lands and homes of their own. 
So they emigrated, in some instances many members of the 
same family. Among the many I will mention the Ban- 
nisters, Woodses, Elys, Hapgoods and Benjamins. They 
called their settlement Rushford, but it was an undivided 
portion of Caneadea. Pliny Bannister emigrated to the 
settlement in 1811, Roderick Bannister in 1812, and Wayne 
Bannister in 1813. Warren Bannister, a traveling preacher 
in the Methodist Church, brought his family, consisting of 
wife and two children and sister-in-law. Miss Lydia Place, 
to Rushford. Pliny Bannister took up a plot of land and 
as the brothers came they labored together on the new 
farm. Roderick Bannister married Miss Lydia Place and 
lived in Rushford and vicinity. His wife died in Rushford 
in 1850. He lived a number of years at Churchville, New 
York, where he died, but he was buried in Rushford. His 
children, Rowena and Albert, survived him. Miss Rowena 
Bannister married Mr. J. Charles of Caneadea and moved to 
Churchville and from there to Fort Scott, Kansas. Both 

51 



Rushford Families 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles died in 1903. Mr. Albert Bannister 
resides in Pasadena, California. Pliny Bannister was bom 
in West Windsor, Vermont, February 5, 1790. Following the 
custom of the days he worked on the farm with his father. 
His fondness for books led him to teaching school. His first 
certificate, signed by the committee, Beaumont Parks and 
Bancroft Fowler, ministers of the Gospel, is dated Wind- 
sor, Vermont, September 20, 1809. Another is dated 
Bromfield, Massachusetts, December 6, 1809, signed by or- 
der of committee, Warren Fay, minister of Gospel. He 
taught two months to the satisfaction of the district, signed 
Eben Nutting by order of committee, dated February 16, 
1810. There is a history of this short term. 

The prevailing religion of that period was Presbyterian, 
quiet, severe, silent and stifif. It was a community of the one 
faith. A Methodist revivalist opened out upon them with 
noise and power. Church members and sinners took on the 
spirit of excitement, confessed their sins, received the Holy 
Ghost and fell into trances. This emotional excitement swept 
the entire Bannister family into the new faith, except the 
absent son who was teaching in far away Massachusetts. 
The loving father went after Pliny with his sleigh, but the 
boy refused to return. The school committee protested. 
Then the solicitous, determined parent demanded in the 
name of the law and the minor son yielded and heard the 
new Gospel but could not accept it as truth. He took to 
studying and searching the Bible and claimed the Bible did 
not teach destruction of God's children, but taught that God 
was love and every soul should in time confess his name. 
This was a great disappointment to the brothers and sisters 
who considered the church the only gate to Heaven. This 
little family episode serves to show the man Pliny as he was, 

52 



The Bannisters 

an investigator, and independent thinker who tempered rea- 
son by kindness. The following year Pliny Bannister re- 
turned to Massachusetts and taught the same school he had 
taught the year previous. He then went to Rushford in i8ii 
and taught school in 1814 and 1815. His certificate was 
issued by Dyer Story and Abel Belknap, Inspectors of Com- 
mon Schools. 

In April, 18 16, Pliny and Wayne Bannister took a 
tract of land of two hundred acres each, four miles east 
of Rushford village on Caneadea Creek. They built a saw 
and grist mill at the head of the gorge on Caneadea Creek. 
Lucy Bannister, a sister at Windsor, Vermont, joined them 
as housekeeper. May, 1820, Wayne fell from the dam 
and when found was dead. Sister Lucy could not endure 
the strain so returned to Windsor. Roderick with his wife 
came to the valley and formed a partnership to operate 
the sawmill with Pliny, which continued for a number of 
years. Later the mill was sold to other parties. 

Pliny Bannister on February 19, 1823, at Angelica, New 
York, married Miss Abigail Whicher, daughter of Stephen 
Whicher, Esq., of Rochester, Vermont. Before her mar- 
riage she taught school and had been employed by Mr. 
Burbank.* Mr. Hopper and Mr. Ketchum to teach their 
children. Mr. and Mrs. Bannister lived in the home they 
built in the valley of Caneadea Creek near the mills for 
forty-three years. Mrs. Bannister possessed good health, 
executive ability, intelligence, a cheerful disposition and a 
willingness to help share the burdens present in an unde- 
veloped country, not only in her own home but in her neigh- 
bors' as well. She was a prized friend in sickness. Nine 
children grew to maturity in this home. The eldest, Thank- 

*Eleazer Burbank and George P. Ketchum settled in Caneadea 
in 181 2, and Rockwell Hopper in Belfast the same year. 

53 



Rushford Families 

f ul Esther, married Luther Gilman of Centerville ; Silas 
married Liicinda Emmerson of Rushford ; Henry C. died of 
fever at the age of nineteen ; Stephen Whicher died of 
fever also at eighteen years ; Mariett married Alfred Kel- 
logg of Rushford; Amelia married Chas. A. De Berczy of 
Toronto, Canada ; Fanny S. married Linus Kendall of Rush- 
ford ; Julia married Dr. V. W. Sunderhn of Michigan ; An- 
drew J. enHsted in Company D, 64th New York Volun- 
teers, Captain Woodworth, and died a martyr to his coun- 
try's call. He is buried in the Richmond National Cemetery, 
Virginia. Mrs. Amelia Bannister De Berczy is the only 
surviving member of Pliny Bannister's family. She lives 
at Fort Scott, Kansas. 

Pliny Bannister was generous and kind to all, a loving 
friend and good conversationalist. He would always illus- 
trate his point by telling a story and leave his opponent in 
good humor but with something to think of. In that com- 
munity every person had opinions of his own. There were 
some spicy debates at the church at noon recess between 
the hours of twelve and one. When the church bell rang 
all became seated in expectant silence. Pliny Bannister was 
a liberal supporter of all religious denominations and was 
one of the builders of the Rushford Universalist Church. 
He was a fine musician and taught his children sacred 
music. His admonition to his children was, "Be true for 
truth's sake." He attended church in all seasons. His habits 
were temperate and his mind evenly poised. He was inter- 
ested in public improvements and in the development of the 
coimtry, especially in good schools and good roads. He 
opened quarries to furnish stone for building the locks on 
the Genesee Valley Canal and furnished plank for the New 
Hudson. Rushford and Caneadea Plank Road. He built a 
sawmill and planing mill in the Gorge to work up his pine 

54 



The Bannisters 

timber, but the fire bugs got in their dastardly work and he 
saw his labor and capital go up in smoke. This was fol- 
lowed by the Belfast Bank failure, making a total loss of 
his surplus funds. Still undaunted he went to Michigan 
and purchased timber lands to begin anew, but again suf- 
fered disappointment because of his failing strength. He 
then thought of the l)eautiful prairie country and came to 
Fort Scott, Kansas, to be with his daughters Amelia and 
Julia. 

I have mentioned but a few of the incidents of this 
one life in the new wild country but enough perhaps to 
give a glimpse of the many hardships of the brave little 
band of voung men who came to conc|uer the wilderness and 
did conquer it. They made for themselves homes of com- 
fort and reared their children. Their descendants today oc- 
cupy places of prominence at home and abroad and are 
proud to speak of their birthplace, Rushford. 

A'Irs. Pliny Bannister died in Fort Scott. Kansas, Janu- 
ary, 1870, and Mr. Pliny Bannister died in the same place 
October, 1870. 

In the childhood days of the Bannister children their 
acquaintance was limited in a degree by the school district. 
It gives me great pleasure to mention the worthy people we 
called i"eighbors, but who to us were like near relatives. 
From the Bannister house we could see the homes of Uncle 
Bill Woodworth, William Wheeler, William Ackerly, Mr. 
Persons, John Orcutt, Dan Balcom and Len Walker. Al! 
the children from these families met in a small schoolhouse 
builded by Pliny Bannister on a lot donated by Roderick 
Bannister. We were all interested in each other, ever not- 
ing the absence or presence of the expected ones. There 
was no dissension among the pupils, the little school was a 
veritable Arcadia. Nor is it a wonder when the strand and 



Rushford Families 

beautiful scenery surrounding, with its changing loveliness 
was ever an inspiration. There were bright sunshine, flitting 
clouds, quick showers, green lawns, singing rivulets and 
cool springs, indulgent teachers and loving homes to run 
to. Truly it is a beautiful oasis in the restrospection, this 
far away home of our childhood. 

Note — Mrs. Belle Kellogg Lane is the only grandchild of Pliny 
Bannister living in Rushford. 



THE BANNISTERS 
From the "Ely Book" 

PLINY BANNISTER came to Rushford when twenty- 
one years of age. He assisted in surveying the town- 
ship, and was the first town clerk, the first school teacher 
and the first music teacher in town. 

Lucy Bannister, daughter of Silas and Thankful Ely 
Bannister, was born in 1784 in Windsor, Vermont, where 
in 1832 she married Rufus Root. After his death, which 
occurred in 1837, she moved to Rushford where she re- 
mained until her death in 1855. She had no children. 

Warren Bannister, son of Silas and Thankful Ely 
Bannister, was born in West Windsor, Vermont, July 26, 
1781. He married in Rochester, New Hampshire. February 
5, 1810, Sarah, daughter of Paul and Judith (Brown) Place. 
Warren Bannister was a Methodist preacher, having joined 
the New England Conference in 1800. In 18 17 he removed 
to Rushford, New York, where three brothers then resided. 
In August, 1820, his wife died leaving him with four chil- 
dren, the youngest two weeks old. After spending more 
than ten years in the State of New York he returned to 
Vermont. Later he went to Rochester, New Hampshire. 

56 



I 



The Bannisters 

In September, 1834, he consented to occupy temporarily 
the pulpit of a church in Nashua, New Hampshire, but 
after preaching three Sabbaths, he was prostrated with 
typhoid fever which resulted in his death on the 19th of 
October after two weeks' illness. His death was peaceful 
and triumphant. 

His children were Pluma (Mrs. Alonzo Persons), born 
in 181 1 in Rochester, New Hampshire; Adam Clark, born 
in Barnard, Vermont; and Hester Ann (Mrs. Madison 
Richards), and Sarah (Mrs. Thomas Delano), born in 
Rushford, where they all married. Mrs. Persons and Mrs. 
Richards died in Rushford, Adam Clark Bannister in An- 
gelica, and Mrs. Delano in Fort Dodge, Iowa. 



Epitaph in the First Burying Ground in Rushford 

Sacred 

to the 

Memory of 

Sarah Bani/ter, Wife of 

Elder Warren Bani/ter 

Who wa/ Neat, ludustriou/, 

Economical and Pious. 

An Ornament to her Sex. 

Died Aug. 13th, 1820 

Aged 29 yrs & 23 dys. 

Till Christ Return/ 

Thy dear Remains 

My Bosom Friend 

Lies here for Worms 



57 



Rush ford Families 
TflE THIRDS. 
Nancy E. De Kay 

OUR father, James Thirds, was born in New Bedford, 
Massachusetts, December 27, 1806, of Enghsh and 
Scotch parents. His father was from London, England, and 
his mother from Boston, Massachusetts. Owing to the 
death of his father, which occurred when he was six years 
old, his mother, with her children, James and a younger son, 
WilHam, went to Rush ford, travehng all the way by stage, 
the only mode of conveyance in those days. She made her 
home with her brother, the Rev. Thomas Pratt. Father 
was a tailor by trade but followed that business only the 
first years of his life. 

Our mother, Parthenia G. Oilman, was born in Cam- 
bridge, N. Y., August 16, 1807, of Scotch and American 
parents. She was a descendant of an old and distinguished 
Virginia family, that of John Randolph of Roanoke. She 
went to Rush ford as a guest of Dr. and Mrs. Horatio Smith, 
who persuaded her to remain. She there followed her oc- 
cupation of millinery and dressmaking. As the days passed 
by, she and the young tailor "met by chance the usual way." 
Their acquaintance ripened and resulted in a happy mar- 
riage which occurred on May 28, 1828, the ceremony being 
performed by Samuel White, Esquire, at that time Justice 
of the Peace. They immediately went to housekeeping in a 
very modest way on the upper street. We have heard our 
mother relate with some little sense of pride and merriment 
that they moved, settled and had company to tea, all in 
one day. 

There were born to them four children, two of whom 
died in infancy. The two remaining are Mrs. Nancy E. 
Thirds De Kay, born .August 28. 1832, and Miss Zeruah 

58 



The Thirds 

Isabel Thirds, born February ii, 1835; they Hved to hear 
the interesting and thrilhng events of their parents' life in 
a new country. The following is one of many. When a 
boy. father was often sent to the mill with grist. One day 
he was detained there unusually long and it was dark before 
he left for home. After going some distance he was chased 
by a panther. Whipping up his horse he rode into Uncle 
Luther Woodworth's barn. There he was kindly protected 
and sheltered until the next morning. 

In looking backward over the cherished lives of our be- 
loved parents it gives us great joy and comfort to remem- 
ber their earnest Christian faith, a rich legacy they left to 
us. They were faithful members of the Baptist Church and 
took great interest in all the events pertaining to the wel- 
fare of the town. Our father was very quiet and a man of 
few words. The following incident will give an illustration: 
In our early childhood we used to sleep in a trundlebed, a 
bed much used for children in those days. My sister and I 
fell into the habit of contending about which of us had the 
"most room," our mother often bidding us be quiet. One 
winter evening after being put to bed, she and father sitting 
by the table reading, we began our song of contention for 
the "most room" as usual. After a time father came to 
our bedside, gently removed the covering and left the room. 
He presently returned with a four-foot log, well decorated 
with snow, ice and moss, which he carefully laid between us. 
He then replaced the bedding and resumed his reading. Of 
course quiet prevailed in that little bed immediately. After 
a time father asked us if we thought we could cease from 
further contention. W^e quickly and meekly replied, "Yes 
sir." He then removed the log and our dear mother ap- 
peared on the scene and tenderly removed the wet night 
dresses, replacing them with dry ones, putting us in her own 



Rush ford Families 

bed until she could make ours dry and comfortable again. 
No words were exchanged during the episode nor any al- 
lusion ever made to it afterward. In later years sister and 
I have referred to it with considerable amusement. Per- 
haps it is needless to say that the punishment had its lasting 
effect. It was the only one our father ever administered 
to us. 

We are still holding the fragrant memories of our 
happy childhood days in the beautiful village of dear old 
Rushford. 

THE PERRYS 
H. J. W. G. 

IN the early part of the nineteenth century there lived in 
the old Bay State, near Deerfall River, twenty miles 
from Boston, three brothers, Othniel, Ebenezer and Ephraim 
Perry. There must have been something of the spirit of 
adventure in the family, since as early as 1808 Othniel took 
out articles for land on the Holland Purchase in township 
five, range two. As he soon died the land was taken by 
Ebenezer P. Perry who came to Rushford about 18 13 and 
settled on land now owned by Mrs. Chauncey Williams, on 
the Mount Monroe road, three-quarters of a mile south of 
the schoolhouse on the corner. At the first town meeting 
he was elected one of the overseers of the poor. He passed 
his life as a farmer. 

Addis Perry of Belfast, son of Josiah Quincy and Em- 
ily (Knickerbocker) Perry, is a grandson of Ebenezer P. 
Perry. On an interesting gray-brown headstone in the 
graveyard west of the village, one may read the following: 
"In memory of Ebenezer P. Perry who departed this life 
Sept. 3rd, 1844, aged 67 yrs. 

60 



l^he Perrys 

"jMy flesh sliall slumber in the ground 
Till Gabriel's joyful trump shall sound." 

His good wife, Hannah (Spear) Perry, lived to be four- 
score years of age. 

Ephraim Perry, so far as we know, was the only one 
of the early settlers who had attended college, though his 
superabundance of life did not allow him to graduate. On 
perhaps an unlucky day, to accommodate a friend, he signed 
a paper with him and thus lost the bulk of his property, so 
in 1818 with a team and covered wagon, he started for the 
Holland Purchase where his brother already lived. He 
settled on the Mount Monroe road, south of his brother's 
farm, on the farm now owned by C. E. Hartman. For a 
short time he lived in a log house on land near the Gordon- 
ville bridge. A stranger calling there, said afterwards that 
he found the woman weeping; she longed for the comforts 
and friends left behind in old Massachusetts. 

Ephraim being educated beyond his fellows, taught 
school and was made town superintendent of schools. He 
was one of the brightest men in Allegany County. He had 
an excellent memory, was well informed in public affairs 
and an excellent story teller. It is refreshing, since the 
majority of the early settlers were Whigs, to find that he 
was a Democrat. As he had lived so near Boston he must 
have been somewhat imbued with its intellectual spirit. This, 
together with the fact that he sharpened his wits by fre- 
quent discussions with his Whig neighbors, made him so 
formidable an antagonist that he worsted that ardent Whig, 
J. B. Gordon, in political controversy. 

Ephraim Perry had six children, four of whom were 
born in ^lassachusetts. Since Massachusetts people ate rye 
bread, on their journey to the new country, the children had 

61 



Rush ford Families 

their first wheat bread and milk. What a treat it was ! When 
they came to Rushford there was a log fence up and down 
Main Street. The roads were so rough that withes were 
braided and fastened to the carts so that those riding in 
ihem could have something to hang onto and would not be 
spilled out. 

Ephraim Perry was born in Chesterfield, Massachu- 
setts ; he died in New Hudson, New York. Chester and 
Foster Perry, sons of Austin and Julia Perry, are grand- 
children of Ephraim and Hannah C Jones) Perry. The 
Perrys are of English descent and are related to the bold 
and dashing Commodore Perry who won the Battle of Lake 
Erie and gave us the words, "We have met the enemy and 
thev are ours." 



LUTHER WOOD WORTH, SR. 
H. J. W. G. 

LUTHER WOOD WORTH was born in Coventry, Con- 
necticut, October i8, 1770. He emigrated to Caven- 
dish, Vermont ; from that place he moved to Saratoga 
Springs, and, in 18 13, he settled (as Parker Wood worth 
says) in "righteous Rushford," where his oldest daughter. 
Plarmony, who had married John Gordon, already lived. 
Mr. Woodworth's son, Luther, in company with John W^hite, 
walked from Vermont to Rushford. Mr. Woodworth lo- 
cated on Caneadea Creek, on lot twenty-eight, where G. C. 
Woods now lives. The Indians had underbrushed the 
woods and used it for a camping ground. A few brush- 
heaps then marked the site of Rushford village. He and his 
son Luther rolled back the logs from what is now Main 

62 



Luther Woochvorlli, Sr. 

Street, and early in the forties some of them still formed a 
part of the fence. 

Luther Woodworth, senior, married for his second 
wife the widow Wheeler, mother of Gilbert and William: 
and Luther Woodworth, junior, married Lucy, daughter of 
the widow Wheeler. 

When Parker Woodworth, a son of Luther, Sr., by the 
second wife, was about eight years old, his father moved to 
Kelloggville, having bought of James Button a part of 
what was later known as the Colburn farm. Since this land 
bordered on Caneadea Creek, it was the first land taken 
up on Rush Creek. 

In political belief Mr. Woodworth was a Democrat. 
When he was feeling well he had a way of holding his 
lines so his horses would dance. They usually danced when 
he came from town. Mr. W^oodworth played the clarinet 
and his son Parker the drum, giving much pleasure to the 
neighbors. Taking life easy, he never accumulated much 
property, but he lived to the ripe age of ninety years. Capt: 
William W. Woodworth, after whom the Rushford Post 
of the. Grand Army of the Republic is named; and Charles 
W. Woodworth. so many years lawyer, postmaster, super- 
visor and justice of the peace in Rushford, were grandsons 
of Luther Woodworth, Sr. Other grandchildren were Mar- 
tha (Mrs. Alpheus Howser), Maria (Mrs. James Napier), 
Helen (Mrs. R. Bonham Laning), and Georgia (Mrs. 
John Berry). Mrs. Helen Laning, whose home is on the 
corner of Church and Main Streets, is the only living child 
of Luther Woodworth, Jr. Parker Woodworth, eighty- 
nine years old, is living in Girard. Pennsylvania. Chas. 
Howser, Ralph B. Laning and Genevieve Laning are grand- 
children of Luther Woodworth, Jr., who live in Rushford. 

6.3 



Rnshford Families 
JOHN HAMMOND 
IT. J. W. G. 

JOHN HAMMOND was born in Saratoga County. In 
1814 he came from Cayuga County to Rushford and 
settled on Barber Hill on the land now owned by William 
Barber; after a number of years he moved to Taylor Hill, 
living on the farm now owned by E. M. Olney, at the four 
comers. His oldest son, Horatio Nelson, was born in 
Cuyaga County in 1812. While living in Rushford, John 
Hammond married Eliza Butterfield, by whom he had nine 
children, Lucretia, Hannah, Mary, Ruth, Minerva, Luthan, 
Thankful, Elizabeth and Benton. These all became iden- 
tified with spiritualism. Thankful was a medium. 

John Hammond was a scholar for the times and all of 
the children were school teachers. Although in political be- 
lief he was a Jefifersonian Democrat, two years he was 
elected supervisor of the town of Rushford. He was promi- 
nent in the Masonic fraternity. He had been to Olean to 
address a lodge of Freemasons, when returning home afoot, 
he became weary and lying down by a spring on Mt. Mon- 
roe, slept till morning. By trade he was a carpenter. He 
was also a surveyor. In 1822 he was captain of a company 
of militia. When his son, Horatio Nelson, was united in 
marriage to Sophia S. Bennett, he, being justice of the peace, 
performed the ceremony. John Hammond moved with his 
family to Pennsylvania in 1850. 

When H. Nelson Hammond was a boy, for two or three 
winters he walked daily from Barber Hill to Mount Monroe 
to attend school in a log building that stood on the farm now 
owned by Reuben Lewis; later he attended the Academy at 
Middlebury (now Wyoming) six weeks. His father in- 
structed him in land surveying, an avocation which he fol- 

64 



John Hammond 





John Hammond 



Horatio Nelson Hammond 



lowed a large part of his life. Much of his fund of knowl- 
edge, which was unusual for that time in Rushford, was ac- 
quired by reading. When seventeen years old he commenced 
teaching winter schools ; fourteen of his twenty-six terms 
were taught in Rushford. 

Some time in the thirties he was captain of a company 
of militia which in accordance with the requirements of the 
law frequently met to drill. F. Eugene Hammond of Cuba 
recalls with pleasure the shining epaulets, the cockade hat 
and the sword with scabbard once worn by his father. 

H. Nelson and Sophia L. Hammond were the parents 
of seven children: F. Eugene, who in 1867 married Emma 
L. Scott of Cuba; H. Jerome, who married Susie Hendy; 
Flora A., wife of W. D. Hale; C. De Alton, who married 
Laura Farwell of Rushford, daughter of Lemuel Farwell ; 
Aurora S., who died when two years old ; and the twins, 
Emma F. (Mrs. Elbert Cady). and Eva L. (Mrs. Walter 
Finch). H. Jerome. Flora A., Emma F. and the widow of 



65 



Rush ford Families 

De Alton live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Eva L. was 
living at the time of her death. 

Intelligence has ever been a mark of a Hammond home. 



AMBA ALDERMAN 
H. J. W. G. 

AMBA ALDERMAN was born in Hartford, Connecti- 
cut, and came to Rnshford in 1814. He bought of the 
Holland Land Company one hundred acres, four miles 
northwest of Rush ford village, at three dollars an acre, pay- 
ing for it in oxen, a pair at a time. He married Rhoba 
Johnson, daughter of Pomeroy Johnson, who came to Rush- 
ford in 1814, and lived on the farm now owned by George 
Cole, on the east road north from the present village, near 
the bridge. It was Rhoba Johnson who longed for a silk 
dress. Fnally she possessed the coveted treasure. To be sure 
jealous eyes looked on, and some said, "How big she feels," 
while others said, "She hasn't got anything to go with it," 
but what cared she? She had her dress. 

Arthur Alderman, son of Amba Harvey, tells the fol- 
lowing creepy story about his grandfather: A squaw laid 
her pappoose down by the fence and a hog belonging to Mr. 
Alderman ate it up. The squaw ran and told her Indian, 
who shot the hog. Mr. Alderman's blood was up. He 
seized the Indian's gun and made him. pay for the hog. The 
squaw mourned for her pappoose. To Mr. Alderman the 
loss of a hog meant much. 

Two of his sons, Amba Harvey and Chauncey L., 
served in the Civil War. Amba Harvey came to Rushford 
village in 1872 and built a steam sawmill in which for more 
than twenty years he sawed an average of 250,000 feet of 

66 



.*! 



The Freemans 

lumber a year. Amba Alderman died January 4, 1868. Mrs. 
Flora Colburn of East Rushford is a granddaughter of 
Amba Alderman. 



THE FREEMANS 
H. J. W. G. 

IN 1808 Josiah Freeman took a contract for land in town- 
ship five, range two, of the Holland Purchase. After 
he had made a few payments, the first of which was three 
dollars, he died, in 1812. His father, Junia Freeman, being 
next to kin, came to Rushford in 1814 from Hamilton, 
Madison County, to secure the title to the land. He brought 
with him six children, Elijah, Eleazer, Maria, Sally, Zenas 
and Bethuel. Peter came later. Mr. William Dunham 
(Uncle Bill Dunham) had been hired to come and clear a 
place and put up a house in 1813. Junia Freeman lived 
north of Rushford village, on the farm now owned by Mrs. 
Lutlier Tliomas and occupied by George Cooper. When 
Elijah married he lived just above and when Eleazer mar- 
ried he lived next above him toward Centerville. Junia 
Freeman had a deed, dated 1818 of the southern part of 
lot thirty-two, one hundred and ninety-five acres. 

Three of Junia Freeman's sons were Baptist preachers, 
and one daughter, Sally, married the Rev. Eliab Going. 
Junia Freeman and one of his sons went to Sardinia to build 
a church. They traveled ride-and-tie, that is, one started 
on the road on foot; the other, mounted on the horse, rode 
about a mile, dismounted, tied the horse and walked on. 
When the one who had started on foot reached the waiting 
horse, he mounted and rode on past the other for a mile or 
so. then dismounted, tied and walked on. This was re- 

67 



Rushford Families 

peated until the end of the journey was reached. Bethuel 
Freeman was thrice married and was the father of eight 
children: Addison and Burton; Cynthia (Mrs. Mason La 
Sell), Ellen, who remained single, Albert, and Sarah (Mrs. 
Asa Hardy) ; Wilbur and Albert. Burton Freeman of 
Shiocton, Wisconsin, Albert Freeman of Franklinville, and 
Wilbur Freeman of Rushford are still living. 

D. W. Leavens, in reminiscences written in 1890 from 
Pasadena, California, after visiting with Mrs. Nelson Mc- 
Call, says, "I could see how old Junia Freeman's high- 
backed wagon looked as he drove to church on a Sunday 
morning. It brought to mind the sermons of Eliab Going 
who always stammered till he got well started. It seems 
to me now that he always preached from the text -'Godli- 
ness with contentment is great gain.' (Of course I have no 
feeling but reverence for these old worthies.) It brought 
back the time when I used to sing in the Baptist choir and 
the later time when I was promoted to lead it, and I could 
almost hear the tenor of Eliab Benjamin and the deep basso 
profundo of Andrew Kimball and Harrison Hapgood. It 
brought back the time when 'Thuel Freeman — bless his 
memory! — brought us a ham for my services as chorister, 
and good Mrs. John Holmes gave Mrs. Leavens a fine cake 
of maple sugar for her services as organist." 



THE GOINGS 
Harriett Going Colby 

CAPTAIN JONATHAN GOING came to Rushford from 
Reading, Vermont, in 1814, and settled on the Cen- 
terville road on what is known as the Talcott farm. 
The children of Jonathan and Sarah Going occupied the 

68 



The Goings 

northern part of the farm and James, who had married 
Anna Young in Vermont, occupied the southern part. Early 
in 1832 James was ordained in Rush ford by a council of 
delegates from several churches. He afterwards moved 
with his family to Pennsylvania. Eliab came to Rushford 
from Ovid, Seneca County, with James AlcCall, in whose 
employ he was for some years. On the 5th of March, 1818, 
he married Sarah Freeman, daughter of Junia Freeman. 
Their children were A. Judson, J. Bradley, Harriett, Kate 
R., Jonathan R., and J. Freeman. Three are now living, 
Bradley, eighty-six years of age is living in Michigan, Har- 
riett, in Holland, New York, and Kate, in Spokane, Wash- 
ington. In 1819 Ezra received a letter of dismission and 
commendation from the Baptist Church in Rushford, since 
they thought he possessed the gift of preaching. The same 
year the sister of Eliab Going married and his mother died, 
so he took the farm and his father lived with him. Capt. 
Jonathan Going was a Revolutionary soldier. He died in 
1848 in Aurora, New York, but is buried in the Rushford 
Cemetery. 

Eliab Going commenced preaching about 182 1. He 
attended Middlebury Academy, under the tuition of Rev. 
Joshua Bradley. In 1823 he was ordained pastor of the 
Baptist Church in Rushford. He was connected with an 
enterprise to benefit the Indians on the Genesee River. A 
school was established and sustained until the Indians were 
removed. In 1832 he moved to Franklinville arid preached 
there one-fourth the time. He organized churches in Hins- 
dale and Olean and supplied them. He was in Hins- 
dale, twelve years ; Holland ; Aurora, eight years ; Wales, 
and other places. At the beginning of the Civil War, he was 
preaching in Newport, Kentucky, where his sons were in 
business ; but they all moved to McHenry, Illinois, where 

69 



Rush ford Families 

Eliab Going and his wife died. They were buried in one 
grave February 28, 1896. 

EHab Going was a member of the Masonic Lodge in 
Rushford in its early existence, and, as an old lady said, 
"he never pronounced" it, though for many years he did not 
meet with the order. In the time of the war, a chaplain was 
needed in the lodge at McHenry so he again met with the 
order. Some two hundred Freemasons participated in his 
burial. 

Elder Going was often called upon to marry a couple 
and many pleasing incidents occurred upon such occasions. 
He married a couple the week before he died ; no one else 
was wanted. He stammered badly at times ; this was a 
great annoyance to him. Once when he was very tired, a 
man, who came for him to marry a couple, said to him, 
"Elder, you stammer so, I bet you a quart of wine you can 
never pronounce them husband and wife." The Elder got 
the wine. One fellow wanted to be married and wait till 
he harvested his beans before he paid the fee. 

Once he went horseback twelve miles over poor and 
muddy roads to attend a stylish wedding at Great Valley. 
The bridegroom gave him a fee in a sealed envelope. He 
felt the coin, it was about the size of a five-dollar gold piece. 
He did not open the envelope, but when he reached home, 
he gave the fee, as his custom was, to his wife. She opened 
the envelope and — lo, a new penny. One Saturday, in 
later years, when he was traveling in Michigan, he wished 
to find a place to stay over Sunday ; seeing a man working 
in a field he drove up to the fence and asked where there 
was a Baptist tavern. The man said, "li I am not mis- 
taken, this is Elder Going ; you do not recognize me ?" "No ; 
I don't" replied the Elder. Then the man asked if he re- 
membered attending a wedding at Great Valley. "I am the 

70 



The Orciitts 

man that was married. I thought since I was engaged in 
a lottery I would venture a penny ; I won a prize. Come 
stop with me." The Elder staid over Sunday and went 
away with ten dollars. 



THE ORCUTTS 
Allan H. Gilbert 

THE Orcutts, a family of Scotch-Irish descent, were 
settled near Hartford, Windsor County, Vermont, at 
the time from which the first records have come down. The 
chief source of information for this time is an old rhyme 
relating the death of one of the family, which has been 
handed down to the present time by word of mouth. 

One Isaac Orcutt was his name 
Who lately into Hartford came 
Residing with his brother James 
One afternoon went so it seems 
To cut some runners for his sled. 
The snow being deep he had to wade 
Near forty rods to an ash tree 
The top being dead as you shall see. 
He cut the tree off from the stump. 
The top being lodged flew back a chunk 
Which fell and hit him on the head 
And crushed him though he was not dead. 
There the poor sufferer senseless lay 
All the remainder of the day 
His charming face plunged in the snow 
While from his head the blood did flow. 
No search was made by anyone 

71 



Rush ford Families 

ITntil the setting of the sun 

When Mr. Donley and his -son 

Alarmed set out upon the run. 

They soon beheld him with surprise 

And gazed on him with steadfast eyes. 

They then supposed him to be dead 

Till by a motion of his head. 

They took him up and bore him home 

Put him to bed in a warm room. 

They rubbed his limbs and dressed his wound 

And tried to force a cordial down. 

P>ut all in vain the passage choked, 

His blood was chilled, his skull was broke. 

All medicine was then applied 

But he on that same evening died. 

The friends and neighbors gathered round 

The sermon preached by Elder Brown. 

His corpse with care was borne away 

To mingle with his native clay. 

James Orcutt, the brother, with his wife, Deborah 
Rood Orcutt, and their children came to Cayuga County 
where at Auburn, January 15, 1808, their daughter Rachel 
married Andre Bennett. In 181 1 Andre and Rachel, with 
their daughter Sophronia borne the year before, came to 
Rush ford and settled near the Six Corners. Some three 
years later, Rachel's brothers, Samuel and Stephen, arrived 
in Rushford and settled on land adjoining the farm of Andre 
Bennett. They were soon followed by their brothers, John 
and Daniel, their sister, Deborah Orcutt Seavey, and their 
mother. James Orcutt, the father, lived in Rushford a few 
years in a house near the Six Corners. In 1814 his name is 
found in a list of the lieutenants of militia in Allegany 

72 



The Orcutts 

County and in 1816 in a list of the captains. February 12, 
1816, he was one of six whose names appear in a petition 
for the estabhshmcnt of a Masonic lodge in Rush ford, and 
on March 18, 1817, he left the Angelica Lodge, of which he 
had been a member, to become a charter member of Rush- 
ford Lodge. However, he seems to have had no further 
connection with the lodge for in a list of members from 
the organization. March 18, 1817, to June 24, 1818, his name 
does not appear. James Orcutt was elected one of three 
commissioners of highways at the first town meeting in 
April, 18 16. The date of the last entry in the town records 
which contains his name is November 23, 1816. 

About the year 1820 Stephen went down the Allegheny 
and Ohio Rivers to Lidiana. He enlisted in the Seminole 
war in 1840 and was never heard from again. In 1827 
Samuel and Daniel followed Stephen to Indiana. 

Though Daniel Orcutt left Rushford so many years 
ago his memory has been preserved by some of his witty 
sayings. Once when he went north with a party of men 
to assist in the wheat harvest of Livingston County one of 
his companions named Wilcox fell sick. "The great fool," 
said Orcutt. "ate all he wanted the first meal." The change 
from the scanty diet of leeks then attributed to Allegany 
County had been too much. Daniel Orcutt was once work- 
ing for Deacon Rawson on the County Line Road between 
Allegany and Cattaraugus counties. One Saturday the 
Deacon promised to give each of the men a drink of whiskey 
if they would finish a certain piece of work by night. The 
work was done, so the Deacon brought out a jug and a 
glass and commenced to pour out the whiskey which he 
said was eight years old. ?Ie was not very generous with 
his whiskey, giving only about a third of a glass to each 
man. When Orcutt's turn came, taking the glass, he said, 



Rush ford Families 

"Deacon, did you say this whiskey is eight years old?" 
"Yes," answered the Deacon. "Well," replied Orcutt, "it 
looks pretty damned small for its age." Even the Deacon 
laughed. Though not a steady drinker, Daniel Orcutt some- 
times indulged in larger amounts of whiskey than that fur- 
nished by Deacon Rawson. Once he hired two men to help 
him drink a barrel he had bought. One of them came at 
seven o'clock in the morning. Orcutt turned him off, say- 
ing that he didn't want him if he couldn't get there earlier 
than that. Daniel Orcutt worked for a widow on Rush 
Creek. When his time was up the woman, who owed him 
nearly a year's wages, promised to pay him as soon as she 
sold her oxen. After waiting a long time Orcutt took her 
oxen from the pasture in broad daylight and drove them off. 
She had him arrested for stealing, partly, it was hinted, 
because her hopes of marrying him had been disappointed. 
When he was brought into court and asked whether he 
were guilty or not guilty, he replied, "Guilty as hell." So 
he was sent to State's Prison at Auburn. While he was 
there he learned to make beautiful coverlids. His sister, 
Mrs. Andre Bennett, used to think that it did him good to 
go to prison, because while there he studied the Bible so 
thoroughly that he was able to repeat large portions of it. 
He was soon pardoned. One day Elder Warren Bannister, 
a Methodist circuit rider, labored with Orcutt because of 
his wild life. The latter listened in silence till the Elder 
finished. Then he asked permission to reph^ in rhyme and 
jingled off: 

"Elder Bannister's face 

Is an open disgrace 

To every human creature. 

I wonder what the Almighty thought 

In making him a preacher." 

74 



Matthew P. Cady 

The Elder said, "That will do," and walked into the 
house. While in Indiana, Daniel Orcutt did not marry the 
girl he loved because he feared his drinking habits might 
cause her unhappiness. Nothing is known of Daniel Or- 
cutt after he went to the Seminole war. He is thought to 
have perished in the massacre of Major Dade's command in 

1835- 

Deborah Orcutt Seavey lived in Rushford until her 
death. The stone erected over her grave by her daughter 
Martha, second wife of Parker Woodworth, bears the sim- 
ple inscription, "My Mother's Grave." 

After the death of Andre Bennett, his wife, Rachel, 
lived with her daughters, Deborah and Rachel. She was 
one of the early settlers present at the Semi-Centennial. 
Mrs. Flora Hammond Hale says that she and the other 
children felt proud to think that grandma who lived with 
them sat on the stage. 



M 



MATTHEW P. CADY 

H. J. W. G. 

ATTHEW P. CADY, of Irish descent, was born in 
Windsor, Vermont, 1786. It is not known when 
he came to Rushford, but he was a resident of the place 
February 12, 1816, since at that time his name appears 
on a petition to the Grand Lodge of Masons of the State 
of New York. At the first town meeting he was elected 
one of the assessors. In 1819 he was elected town clerk, 
in 1820 supervisor, which ofifice he held for five consecu- 
tive years. At a session of the board of supervisors held 
at the public house of Alexander D'Autremont in Angelica, 
November 16, 1825, he was made clerk of the board. Feb- 



Rush ford Families 

ruary 26, 1822, he was one of the justices of the peace in 
Rushford. In 1835 he was one of five elected county 
superintendents of the poor. 

June 4, 1822, he married Lucy Hardy, by whom he 
had six children, Patrick, Lucy (Mrs. Charles Smith), 
Perry, Sophia (Mrs. Peter Pettit), Henderson and Har- 
rison. In accordance with the wishes of his wife, after her 
death, he married Lucy Tarbell, June 26, 183 1. Two chil- 
dren were born to them, George Washington and Andrew 
Jackson. 

Mr. Cady owned land on the west side of the Creek 
road just beyond the bridge, but he lived in the house on 
Buffalo Street, now the home of Mrs. Caroline Crocker. 
Matthew P. Cady, John Spencer and others built on Canea- 
dea Creek, in 1816, the first sawmill in Rushford. Mr. 
Cady caught cold while lumbering in the Pine Woods and 
in a week was gone, at fifty-nine years of age. The last 
day of his life he uttered the words, "Two o'clock and I 
must give it up." In the First Burying Ground in Rush- 
ford one may read his epitaph, "Though lost to sight to 
memory dear." The only descendant now living in town 
is Bessie Cady, daughter of George Cady, 

JAMES McCALL 
H. J. W. G. 

IN 181 5 James McCall, his wife Elizabeth and eight chil- 
dren came from Ovid, Seneca County, to Rushford 
where he purchased eight hundred acres of land. He set- 
tled on the east road, north of the present village, where, 
in 1816, in one of the first frame buildings in the settlement, 
he opened the first store. Before long. he moved to the 
farm on the Caneadea road, now owned by Watkins James. 

76 



James McCall 

He bought and ran the grist mill which had been built 

in 1813 by Warren. It stood on land now owned by 

Mrs. Julia Walker. "After the almost entire loss of the 
small crops of the new settlers, in the cold season of 1816, 
there, as in most of the new settlements upon the Purchase, 
extreme scarcity of provisions prevailed. The Judge, own- 
ing a mill, controlled all the grain in the neighborhood, 
except a little corn that the Indians had upon the Caneadea 
reservation. He gave orders to sell to no one man over 
forty pounds of flour or meal; and not to sell to those who 
had teams, and the means of procuring breadstufif by going 
out to the older settlements after it. And when his sup- 
plies became reduced, he restricted the amount to be sold 
to any one man, to twenty pounds. In this way, the poor- 
est and most destitute of the new settlers were carried along 
until the harvest of 1817." 

In 18 16 he owned a sawmill on Caneadea Creek. His 
first grist mill at East Rushford was built in 1818. The 
second burned many years ago, but the foundation still re- 
mains and forms part of the wall of the present mill. 
Carved on a stone at the east end, one may read, "J. McCall 
& Sons, 1831." In 1847 James McCall & Sons sold their 
mill to G. Grimard. 

For seven years he was a member of the State Legis- 
lature,* being three years in the Assembly and four in the 
Senate. "April 10, 1818, an act was passed by the Legisla- 
ture appointing Thomas Dole of Nunda, John Hoyt of 
Caneadea, and James McCall of Rushford commissioners 
to lay out a road on the west side of the Genesee River 
through the Caneadea Reservation, and to 'agree with and 
satisfy the Indians owning and possessing said land for 
their reasonable damages for said roads passing through 

*After he came to Allegany County. 

•77 



Rush ford Families 

their improved lands.' $i,ooo was appropriated for the 
purpose." 

1817 was the year of his first appearance as a mem- 
ber of the Court of General Sessions and the Court of 
Common Pleas. From this time he was called Judge Mc- 
Call. 

He was one of the constituent members of the "First 
Baptist Church in Rush ford,'' which w^as organized in 18 16. 
The family altar which he reared was never neglected, 
though there were those who thought, since he had so 
many men in his employ, that it was a great loss of time. 
Thursday evening the chairs were put into the wagon and 
he and his family went to the house of prayer. ]\Ir. H. B. 
Ackerley said that he had heard his mother say that he 
often closed his testimony in Covenant meeting with these 
words, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for 
Israel is. that they might be saved." 

James McCall died March 24, 1856, when eighty-two 
years of age, having hved an honored and useful life. One, 
riding from Rush ford to Caneadea, observes in a field about 
a mile from Rushford village, on the left side of the road, 
a monument. It was erected to the memory of James 
McCall, his wife Elizabeth, his wife Lydia, his daughter 
Sophia Gofif, her husband Richard S. Goff, and other mem- 
bers of the AlcCall family who years ago were buried here 
in a family lot on the farm : 

Children of James and Elizabeth McCall. 

Sophia (Mrs. R. S. Gofif), born i8cx). 

Milton, born j8oi. 

Matilda (Mrs. E. K. Howe), born 1803. 

Emily (Mrs. D. Searl), born 1805. 

Seneca, born 1807. 

Nelson, born 1810. 

78 



Levi Benjamin 

Maria (]\Irs. A. Miner), born 1812. 

Ansel, born 1814. 

Naomi (Mrs. Ezra Cbase), born 181 5. 

Eliza (Mrs. A. K. Benjamin), born 1819. 

James, born 1820. 

Ira Newell, born 1821. 

Catharine (Mrs. P. Rappleye), born 1822. 

Jacob, born 1824. 

Nelson McCall left Rushford in 1855, but in the seven- 
ties his son, Elbert, was engaged in the mercantile business 
in Rushford, on the corner of Main and Church Streets. 

One grandchild of James McCall, Mrs. Sophia (Benja- 
min) Taylor, lives in Rushford. 

LEVI BENJAMIN 
H. J. W. G. 
EVI BENJAMIN was born in Ashburnham, Massa- 



L 



chusetts, in 1777. His first wife, Nancy (Willard) 
Benjamin, mother of Betsey and Nancy, died in 1800. His 
second wife, Abigail Kendall, was the mother of Sally,* Lucy, 
Albert, Eliab (1812), Almond (1813), Albert and Charles 
(1817). His third wife, whom he married in 1842, was 
Deborah Kendall, a widow. Levi Benjamin had lived in both 
Windsor and Woodstock, Vt., but came to Rushford from 
Ovid, Seneca County, in 181 5. How long he had been in Sen- 
eca County is not known. He settled on lot thirty, on land now 
occupied by Charles Hall, son of the late Arcelia (Benja- 
min) Hall. Here he built one of the first log taverns in the 
town. In one end of the tavern was a loft, the, other end 
was enclosed for chambers, both w^ere reached by a ladder 
inside. In the loft prayer meetings were sometimes held. 

*Mrs. Daniel Chase, grandmother of Arthur Chase, the vio- 
linist. 

79 



Rushford Families I 

The bar below, the altar above— incongruous, you say. It 1 

would be today, not so a hundred years ago when at funerals 
there was a bountiful supply of liquors, and minister and 
mourners, in fact all but the dead, drank. 

When Levi Benjamin first came to Rushford his neigh- 
bors on the north were Josephus Young, Pomeroy Johnson 
and the Freemans, on the south James McCall, William Gor- 
don, Tarbel Gordon and John Gordon. 

Levi Benjamin was one of the constituent members of 
the Baptist Church and the first deacon. His log tavern was 
a historic place for in it was held the first town meeting, 
at which he was elected constable and one of the overseers 
of the poor. In 1816 a mail route was opened from Perry 
to Olean. Rushford then had a postoffice and Levi Benja- 
min was the first postmaster. May 29, 1817, he joined 
the Rushford Lodge of Freemasons. Meetings of the lodge 
were sometimes held in his tavern. Once when there was 
a candidate for initiation, the girl in the kitchen was heat- 
ing a griddle red-hot. "What are you doing that for?" 
said the candidate. "Oh, I don't know," said the girl, "they 
always have me do that when there is any one to be ini- 
tiated." The would-be Mason disappeared. 

When Levi Benjamin came to Rushford he was in the 
prime of Hfe. After living forty-nine years on the same 
farm, he was called hence January 27, 1864. The grand- 
children who reside in Rushford are Mrs. Sophia E. Tay- 
lor, daughter of Almond Benjamin; James G. Benjamin, 
son of Eliab, and Romain Benjamin, son of Charles. Har- 
rie Hall, who so beautifully decorated the Academy Hall 
Old Home Week, is a great-great-grandson of Levi Benja- 
min. 



80 



SAMUEL PERSONS 
H. J. W. G. 

O AMUEL PERSONS, son of a Universalist preacher, 
*<J was born in Windsor, \'ermont, February i, 1793' 
He and his wife, Lucinda Dodge, came to Rnshford from 
Kingsbury, Washington County, in 1816, when their son, 
Alonzo, was two years old. After staying a short time with 
Levi Benjamin, a relative, they moved into a log house on 
the Alma lot, now a part of the farm of George Eaton on 
the Creek road. Here were born Samuel, John, Daniel 
Dodge, Lucinda (Mrs. Philetus Gratton), and Adaline (Mrs. 
D. Ogden). About 1828 they moved to Podunk where 
Hosea and Myra ( i Mrs. Joseph Rice, 2 Mrs. Lowell Far- 
well) were born. All but Myra were born in a log house. 
They lived many years in Podunk. on the Hume road, in 
the red house north of the corners, now occupied by W. 
Vaname. In a shop near this house Alonzo and John Per- 
sons were the first in town to make sap buckets and sap- 
tubs. In this way they helped pay for the farm. Dodge 
Persons was a school teacher of repute. Years later when 
a boy was being tutored in mental arithmetic Barnes Blanch- 
ard who was present said, "Why, that's the way Dodge Per- 
sons used to have us do." 

The child Caroline was left motherless, so Mrs. Per- 
sons, although she had three small children, gave the child 
of her sister and her husband's brother a home. Mrs. Per- 
sons remembered with much appreciation the kindness of 
Luther Woodworth, Jr., who with his ox team came every 
day when her husband was sick and drew the back log onto 
the fire. 

Since there were some undesirable citizens in the east 
part of the town. Samuel Persons said it ought to be called 
Podunk. The name stays and like some other names given 

81 




Mrs. Myra A. Persons Farwell 



David J. Board 

in derision, it has come to have a good sound. Samuel Per- 
sons did not spell it P-o-d-on-q-u-e. Mrs. Persons said that 
the strife in the "good old times" was to see who should 
have the best rye-and-Injun bread or who should get her 
spinning done first. 

Alonzo married Pluma Bannister in 1837; Samuel mar- 
ried Mary Taylor, daughter of Benoni Taylor, in 1841 ; John's 
first wife was Caroline Gary Woods, whom he married in 
1840, his second wife was Nancy Willis; Daniel Dodge 
married Melissa Spoor; after her death he married Mrs. 
Saphronia (Hardy) Kimball; Hosea married Mary Tar- 
bell in 1853 ; after her death he married Olive M. Gilbert. 

Samuel Persons was converted when forty years of age 
and joined the Methodist Church. Alonzo, Samuel, John, 
Hosea and Myra were also members of the Methodist 
Church. Lucinda was a Methodist in early life but later 
joined the Baptist Church. Adaline was a Universalist. All 
of the children of Samuel and Lucinda Persons spent their 
closing days in Rushford, except Samuel, who died in De- 
levan, and Adaline, who died in Titusville, Pennsylvania. 
Mr. Persons died in 1867. Mrs. Addie (Rice) Davis and 
Mrs. Nellie (Persons) Metcalf are the grandchildren of 
Samuel Persons, who reside in Rushford. 



DAVID J. BOARD 

H. J. W. G. 

AVID J. BOARD was born in Castleton, Vermont, 
July 27, 1792. In 1816 the settlers of Rushford were 
glad to hear that a blacksmith, David Board, had come. His 
shop was on the east side of the road north from Elmer's 
cheese factory just beyond what is now Benjamin Williams' 

83 



D 



Rushford Families 
house. August 2, 1818, he married in Rushford Laura 
Ruhama Woods, sister of Daniel Woods. 

The following teacher's certificate will be of interest: 
"We the undersigned Inspectors of Common Schools 
for the town of Caneadea in the County of Allegany, do 
certify that we have examined Laura Board and do beheve 
she is of good moral character and of sufficient learnmg and 
ability, and in all other respects well qualified to teach a 

common school. 

"Given under our hands at Caneadea, the eleventh day 
of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 

hundred and eighteen. 

"Freeman S. Wilson, 

"James Rice, 
"Daniel Woods, 
"Inspectors of Common Schools." 
Oscar F. Board, the only child of David and Laura 
Board, was born in Bloomfield, Ontario County, February 
22 1820 When he was four years old he came with his 
parents to Rushford. They settled in Podonque on the 
southern part of lot twenty-two near the meeting of three 
roads. November 26, 1848, Oscar F. married h'S j:ousin 
Clarissa Richards. Their two children. Frank M and 
Anna, were born in the old homestead. Laura Board died 
in February, 1869, and David Board in August, 1877. Frank 
M Board, who resides on Church Street in Rushford vil- 
lage, is the only living grandchild of David Board 

Mrs Laura Board used to walk 'cross lots from her 
home in Podonque to the Methodist Church, wearing her 
old shoes till she reached the village, when she would ex- 
change them for her "meeting"' shoes. Once while on her 
way to church, she fell and broke a rib. but she went on to 
meeting, saying nothing about her fall until she returned 

84 



James Kendall 

home. On the walls of memory are two pictures of David 
Board — one of him sitting in one of the front pews of the 
Methodist Church, the other of him giving a young girl, 
late in the season, a well preserved russet apple. After all 
it is the kindly things we remember. 



JAMES KENDALL 
H. J. W. G. 

JAMES Kendall, of Enghsh and Scotch descent, was 
the grandfather of Hartwell Kendall, Mrs. Antoinette 
Stacy, Riley Morrison and Henderson Morrison. He lived 
in West Windsor, Vermont. His wife, Dorothy Tarbell, 
was a cousin of Abel Tarbell and a niece of Jerusha Tarbell, 
wife of James Gordon, the Scotchman. T, Jefferson Eddy, 
a cousin of Emerson Kendall, relates that Aunt Dolly, as 
Dorothy was called, used to wear a scarlet red cloak when 
she lived in Vermont. Since the land in Vermont was so 
stony that they had to sharpen the noses of the sheep so 
they could feed between the rocks, and since they had heard 
glowing reports of the Holland Purchase as the "land flowing 
with milk and honey," in 1816, with an ox team and wagon, 
James and Dorothy Kendall with eight children set out 
for the "Promised Land." John Hoyt, who came with them, 
remained on the "River," but they came on to the hills as 
fever and ague was prevalent on the Genesee flats. It was 
the ninth day of June when they left Windsor, Vermont ; 
when they arrived at Caneadea it was the third day of 
July. They settled in Rushford on lot forty-four, on land 
now owned by the Kendalls. In the new country they found 
their way to the village by the blazed trees. 

85 




Charles Hanford Kendall 



James Kendall 

James Kendall was a man of unusual strength, never 
sparing himself; once he hitched himself to a load of ashes 
and started for the ashery when the horse and wagon were 
going in the same direction. Morton Pratt called him a 
beech-bruiser. He excelled in gardening. In politics he 
was a Whig; in religon he and his wife were Methodists. 
Dorothy, his wife, used to burn sulphur on coals to im- 
press her children with a fear of hell. When the circuit 
rider appeared, the children were always on their good be- 
havior. James Kendall and wife were among the converts 
to Mormonism ; but when they reached Nauvoo, Illinois, 
they left the Mormons. 

Once when Mr. Kendall was felling a tree without 
a top, it struck his rounded shoulders and he exclaimed, 
''The Lord have 'marcy' on my soul." He was a restless 
man, traveling back and forth from the West many times, 
stopping by the wayside and building a fire for warmth and 
cooking. When the grandchildren saw a covered wagon 
heaving in sight, they would exclaim, "Grandpa's coming." 

His good wife died when ninety- four years of age. 
]\Iissing her strong support, the man of ninety-seven year.s 
decided to take unto himself another wife. The children 
objected, as children do, and they wrote to Mrs. Emerson 
Kendall, asking her to use her influence against the mar- 
riage. This she refused to do, saying, "Ninety-seven is just 
the right age to get married." Before the marriage was 
consummated, the angel of death overtook him and he was 
laid to rest in Switzerland County, Indiana. 

The children of James and Dorothy Kendall were 
Fanny (Mrs. John Morrison) ; James, who, not liking the 
country, went back to Vermont; Laura (Mrs. James Mor- 
rison) ; Emerson, who was born in 1800 and in 1825 married 
Amanda Gillette; Harriet (Mrs. David Morrison); Per- 

87 



Rushford Families 

melia (Mrs. Chauncey Moore); Lucy (Mrs. Charles Hap- 
good), and Mary (Mrs. Jonathan Dunham). 

The land purchased of the Holland Land Company by 
James Kendall is now occupied by Hartwell, son of Emerson 
Kendall, and Charles Hanford, son of Charles B. Kendall. 
Five generations of Kendalls have lived on this land. 

Note — John, James and David Morrison were sons of Ephraim 
Morrison who came to Rushford sometime between 1816 and 1820. 
James and David lived on lot forty-three; their farms joined and 
John lived on the crossroad that extended from the Kendall farm 
on the West Branch road to the Cream Ridge road. John after- 
wards moved to Indiana. Sullivan Morrison now owns the farm 
that belonged to his father, James Morrison, and Mrs. Rachel Kil- 
mer owns the one that belonged to her father, David Morrison. 
Charles Pettit of Hardys is a grandson of John Morrison. 

(See Revolutionary record of Ephraim Morrison.) 



DAVID KINNEY 

H. J. W. G. 

DAVID KINNEY and his wife, Mary Williston, in 
company with Ely Woods and Elijah and Jacob 
Childs came to Rushford from Windsor, Vermont, in 1816, 
when Mrs. Kinney was twenty-one years of age. They trav- 
eled with an ox team. Mr. Kinney settled on a ten-acre 
lot back of the Podonque Cemetery, on a road now dis- 
carded. Here August 6, 1820, the dinner-horn was blown 
to announce the birth of a child. They named him Caleb 
Williston Kinney. He was their only child. Later David 
Kinney bought a farm on the road north from East Rush- 
ford and lived in the second house, now vacant, below 
George Van Dusen's present home. In this house were 
born his two grandchildren, Mrs. Mary Kinney Beebe of 
Arcade, and Ida Kinney (deceased). For a number of 

88 



Daniel Ely 

years David Kinney was a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church ; he afterward joined the Wesleyan Methodist 
Church. 

For his second wife he married the widow Maxwell; 
in 1859 they moved to Adrian, Michigan, where he died 
about two vears later. 



D 



DANIEL ELY. 

Julia Williams Straight 

ANIEL ELY was born in Southern Connecticut in 
1787. He was of English descent. One of his ances- 
tors came to America in the historic Mayflower in 1620. He 
was married in 1807. In the course of a couple of years his 
wife died, leaving him with an infant daughter. 
Soon after he came to Central New York he met 
Mrs. May Carrier, a young widow with three children, 
who had recently come from Massachusetts. She became 
his wife. They moved to Rush ford in 18 16 and settled on 
the farm, in later years owned and occupied by Lyman Met- 
calf. While there, an Indian family was one of their near- 
est neighbors, and companies of Indians with their entire 
household possessions upon their backs frequently passed 
by on their way to better hunting grounds. Sometimes these 
companies camped in the neighborhood for a few days. 
These were awe-inspiring times, at least to the younger 
members of Mr. Ely's family. He remained on this farm 
about twelve years. Only a few years ago an apple orchard 
still remained there, the most of the trees having been 
grown from seeds brought in Mr. Ely's pocket from his 
former home. In 1827 he moved to a farm on the road 
from Rush ford to Fairview. Here Mr. Ely lived until 



Rushford Families 

about 1852, when he sold his farm to his oldest son, C. C. 
Ely, About a year later he bought a small place a half 
mile from Fairview on the road leading to Farmersville 
Center. Here he resided until his death in August, 1864. 
After his death his widow lived on the old farm with her 
son and. his family. In 1869 she moved with them to Rush- 
ford village (Gordonville), where she died a few years 
later at the advanced age of ninety years. 

Mr. Ely was the father of six children, all but one 
of whom passed the age of "three-score years and ten." 
The youngest and only surviving child, Mrs. Cornelia Bixby, 
is now (1908) eighty-six years of age. For the past few 
months on account of the infirmities of age she has been 
an inmate of the home of her nephew, William Ely, at 
Franklinville. Mr. and Mrs. Ely lived together for more 
than fifty years, and three of their children, C. C. Ely, Mrs. 
Sarepta Williams and Mrs. Cornelia Bixby, also passed their 
golden wedding anniversaries. 



THE GILLETTES 
V. R. Gillette 

MY grandfather's name was Seth Gillette, and my fath- 
er's name was Ezekiel Gillette. The Gillettes came 
from Connecticut to New York State. In 18 17, grand- 
father moved from Ovid, Seneca County, to Rushford and 
settled on the hill west of East Rushford, where Colonel 
Raker now lives. Father, 'at that time, was eighteen years 
old, having been born February 2, 1799. He died April 17, 
1868. Father had one brother, Linus, who left home when 
a young man and was never heard from after. He had 
four sisters, Amanda, who married Emerson Kendall; 

90 



ffi 




3 
td 

O 




Rush ford Families 

Polly, who married Moses Gillette (he was not re- 
lated so far as known. Four brothers by the name of 
Gillette came to America from France) ; Sylvia, who mar- 
ried Van Lansing Swift; and Elizabeth, who married Lan- 
sing Buell and settled in Centerville, Michigan. Father 
married Lorena Swift, sister of Charles and Heman Swift; 
she was one of sixteen children. 

When I was a year old, mother left me at Grandfather 
Gillette's, while she went up to Buell's Corners, as then 
called, to Andre Bennett's to get a tooth pulled. While 
she was gone, grandfather taught me to walk by reaching 
out his cane ; as I toddled to get hold of it, he would draw 
it toward him, so I was walking when mother came back. 

One day a neighbor, Mrs. Hurlburt, called just before 
dinner ; grandfather invited her to stop with them for din- 
ner. "No," she said, "I am going right home." "Then the 
more need of it," grandfather replied. She, a little riled, 
said, "You think I haven't got anything to eat." "O, no ; I 
thought you would need it to help you up the hill ;" then 
she took off her things and staid to dinner. 

Grandfather told that he had a calf that did not live 
through the winter and died in the spring. That went the 
rounds amongst the neighbors who could not solve the mys- 
tery ; so he had to tell them that it fell in the spring near the 
house where they got their drinking water. 

Grandfather was a wooden bowl turner, and father 
went out peddling the bowls. The first night, when he was 
out on his first trip, he got in too late for supper, so he had 
a special one. The girl who waited on the table sat down 
too, and he was so bashful he couldn't eat, so he nearly 
starved. That taught him to eat when hungry, if there 
was a pretty girl looking on. 

Father said they were at Eneas Gary's to dinner. When 

92 



The Gillettes 

Gary was asking the blessing, he heard a crash and, look- 
ing up, saw a Inill in the garden. "Charles, Charles," he 
called, "that little darned bull is in the garden ; Bony, Bony." 
The dog didn't wait for his son Charles to open the door, 
but went right through the window. Then Gary went on 
and finished his blessing. They all enjoyed the incident. 

Grandmother (Anna Warner Gillette) died in 1837. 
Grand fatiier lived with us on the old farm until his death 
in 1853. In 1^54 we sold our farm to Washington White. 



Story told by C. B. Kendall, grandson of Seth Gillette. 

Some time during the early years of the town of Rush- 
ford a partnership was formed between Seth Gillette and 
Eneas Gary for the manufacture at East Rushford of 
wooden measures, bowls, covered boxes and such like, 
called at that time, calamity ware. Mr. Gillette had no team 
but the mill and its appurtenances belonged to him, so these, 
with himself and his son "Zeke" were to offset Mr. Gary's 
team, himself and his son William. 

After supplying their own and the near-by towns with 
the product of their labors they found they still had a 
quantity of calamities on hand, so they decided to visit 
other counties to find a market for their ware. In their 
journeyings they came to Seneca Lake which they decided 
to ferry across. When about half way over the boat cap- 
sized and into the lake went passengers and cargo. The 
boat righted itself and "Zeke" was the first to reach it. He 
could see no sign of the others except a rope hanging over 
the side which seemed to be attached to something in the 
water. He seized it, clambered in and began to pull. First 
a pair of boots made their appearance, then some blue 
jean trousers and a butternut colored shirt with his father 

93 



Rush ford Families 

inside. In the meantime Eneas and his son rose to the sur- 
face and swam to the boat. While they were getting grand- 
father Gillette, spitting and sputtering, over the side into 
the boat, they managed to understand these words, "I want 
to go home to mammy, I want to go home to mammy," and 
"home to mammy" he went, in spite of the protests of Eneas 
and William, in spite of his habits of thrift, and left the 
calamities to be gathered in by anyone who wished. 



ASA BENJAMIN 
H. J. W. G. 

IN 1817 Asa Benjamin and his wife, Abigail Swinerton, 
and their children left Windsor, Vermont, with an ox 
team and wagon, a horse and a cow. The cow was milked 
and the surplus milk put into a churn. The jolting did the 
churning, so they had both butter and milk on the way. In 
about three weeks they reached Podonque and settled on 
the farm now occupied by George Neal. 

Mr. Benjamin was a shoemaker and stone mason. He 
made boots and shoes and laid chimneys for his neighbors 
and they in return worked on his land. He raised flax, and 
linen sheets, towels and table cloths of various patterns 
were woven by the family. Miss Gratie Coburn has sam- 
ples of her mother's weaving marked P. P. B. Mrs. Benja- 
min was a tailoress of unusual skill. After seeing a suit of 
clothes on a person she could cut and make a suit like it. 
Mr. Benjamin had a cider mill to which the farmers brought 
their apples in the fall, carrying away barrels of cider to be 
used as a beverage or for vinegar or, if sweet, to be boiled 
down for cider apple sauce. 

In 1817 he was appointed justice of the peace. He 

94 



Elijah Lyman 

served seventeen years. His judgment must have been es- 
teemed, since he was frequently called upon to settle disputes. 
The latch string at his house was always out and if anyone 
needed help he was taken in. While they were living in Ver- 
mont, Oliver Davis, born in Windsor, Vermont, March 12, 
1806, was left motherless, so he was taken as their own. It 
was casting bread upon the waters, since he tenderly cared 
for them in their declining years. The Red Man appearing 
at the door and saying, "Me hungry," went away full. Asa 
Benjamin was a Whig but, although he lived in Podonque, 
he was not a Methodist. One of the grandchildren remem- 
bers the green-covered Bible at the head of grandmother's 
bed. In Vermont she belonged to a sect called Christians. 
The sick she visited to minister to their needs. Asa Benja- 
min died in 1853 when seventy-one years of age. Miss 
Gratie Colburn, Airs. A. Fraser and Miss Flora Colburn are 
his grandchildren who reside in Rush ford. 



ELIJAH LYMAN 
H. J. W. G. 

ELIJAH LYMAN, of English and Scotch descent, was 
born in Weathersfield, Windsor County, Vermont, in 
1783. When nineteen years of age he moved with his 
father to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. In 1803 he 
married Prudency Carrier of Hebron, Connecticut. He en- 
listed in the War of 1812 and started for Buffalo, but hear- 
ing of the great victory of the Americans over the British 
in the Battle of Lake Erie, he returned home. In 1817 he 
left Lymanville, Pennsylvania, and with his wife and four 
children, Reuben, Emily (Mrs. Albert Woods), Maranda 
(Mrs. Aaron Eaton), and Dolly (Mrs. WilHam Bradford), 

95 



Rushford Families 

came to Rushford, traveling with an ox team. He settled 
first on the east road extending north from the present vil- 
lage, but later he purchased the farm on the Creek Road 
now owned by Frank Gordon, where he spent the remainder 
of his life. Four children were born in Rushford, Alonzo, 
Sally (Mrs. Perry Cady), Densmore and Gideon. Gideon 
bore the name of his grandfather, his great-grandfather and 
his great-great-grandfather. 

Elijah Lyman was a shoemaker. He traveled in Canea- 
dea, Belfast and Centerville, carrying his tools with him, 
staying a week at a house and making boots and shoes for 
the entire family. The leather was furnished by those for 
whom he worked. He was also a worker in wood. Like a 
true-born Yankee, he did not need a turning lathe to make 
the things he could whittle. His granddaughter. Miss Ellen 
Lyman, has a rolling-pin made by him with a jackknife. The 
logs of which his house was made were hewn so as to make 
smooth walls in the interior. 

He was tall, erect, vigorous and active, nervous in tem- 
perament and well versed in all the afifairs of the day. In 
religious convictions he was a Methodist. Being very strict 
in the observance of the Sabbath he would prepare for the 
Holy Day on Saturday afternoon. Grace was said before 
each meal, the family being seated, and thanks returned 
after the meal, the family standing. He loved his country,, 
his home and his family. "Boys," he would say, "be careful 
not to disgrace your name ; it never has been disgraced."" 
The following incident illustrates his quiet determination : 
He was working on his farm, when a man in an adjoining 
field commenced w'hipping his horse, finally he began maul- 
ing it with a fence rail. Mr. Lyman could stand it no longer ; 
springing Over the fence and calling the man by name he 

96 



The Butterfields 

said, "You have whipped that horse enough." The man 
looked at him and stopped. 

Since Mrs. Lyman understood the medicinal properties 
of plants, she was often called to care for the sick. One 
of their neighbors being ill, it was understood by Mr. and 
Mrs. Lyman that if they heard a horn blow they were to 
come at once. The horn blew, they lighted their perfor- 
ated tin Hntern and following the marked trees went afoot 
to Fairview. 

In the early morning of November 13, 1833, while it 
was yet dark, Mr. Lyman started for Caneadea with a bag 
of corn on his shoulders. As he went his way, small shoot- 
ing stars, which fell like snowflakes, interspersed with balls 
of fire, the whole followed by luminous trains of wonder- 
ful colors, made the most magnificent sight his eyes had ever 
beheld. He thought perhaps the end of the world had 
come, but he kept on going to mill. It proved to be a sub- 
lime meteoric shower seen all over the United States. 

I cannot forbear mentioning the unusual afifection ex- 
isting between the two sons, Alonzo and Densmore, who, 
having one pocketbook, lived and worked together in har- 
mony until death separated them. Elijah Lyman died in 
1 871, when eighty-nine years of age. 



THE BUTTERFIELDS 
H. J. W. G. 

OLR'ER BUTTER FIELD was born in Granby, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1792. Lodensy (Tilly) Butterfield, his 
wife, was born in the same place in 1793. Two children 
were born to them in Chesterfield, Massachusetts, Lucinda 
in 1816, and Lodensy in 1817. About 1818 they all came 

97 



Rush ford Families 
to Rush ford and settled on the Cuba road across from the 
present Enghsh farm. During the winters of 1823, 1824 
and 1825 Ohver taught school in a log schoolhouse on 
■or near the farm on the Mount Monroe road, now owned 
by Reuben Lewis. F. E. Hammond of Cuba has in his pos- 
session one of his father's writing books, the copies of 
"which were set by Oliver Butterfield. He was one of the 
first music teachers in town. In 1821 he was chosen chor- 
ister in the Baptist Church. Five more children. Electa, 
Jerusha, Louisa, Lucina and Minerva, were born in R.ush- 
ford. He then had seven daughters all of whom became 
Spiritualists and nearly all of whom were school teachers. 

He moved with his family to a farm near the eastern 
line of the town of Cuba, adjoining Friendship. After- 
ward he and his wife went with their daughter, Lodensy, and 
her husband, David Scott, to Lake Mills, Wisconsin, where 
they both died in 1854, the first summer after their re- 
moval. Lodensy Butterfield Scott was the mother of Mrs. 
F. E. Hammond and Cora L. V. Richmond, a noted writer 
and lecturer on Spiritualism and pastor of a church in Chi- 
cago, Illinois, the only Spiritualist church in existence. 
Jerusha (Butterfield) Vreeland was the mother of Oliver 
Vreeland, now dead, but for many years Judge of the County 
Court of Cattaraugus County. He was a graduate of the 
old Rushford Academy. Another son of Mrs. Vreeland is 
the Hon. Edward B. Vreeland, now a Congressman from 
the Thirty-seventh District of New York State. 

Not long after Oliver Butterfield settled in Rushford 
his mother, Hannah, a widow of Solomon Butterfield, came 
with her children from Chesterfield, Massachusetts, and 
settled on the farm now owned by Reuben Lewis. The 
children of Solomon and Hannah (Giddings) Butterfield 
were: Oliver; Elijah, born at Westhampton, Massachu- 



The Butterfields 

setts, in 1796, died at Cuba, N. Y., in 1848; Electa, born at 
Westhampton, Massachusetts, in 1798; Clarissa, born at 
Chesterfield, Massachusetts, in 1805, died in Pennsylvania; 
Eli, born at Chesterfield, Massachusetts, 1808, died in New 
Hudson ; Horace, born at Chesterfield, Massachusetts, in 
181 1, died at Portville, New York. Electa married Charles 
Swift, Jr., Clarissa married Salmon Chamberlain, and Eliza 
married John Hammond. Mrs. Alice (Williams) Brecht, 
teacher of vocal music in the Rushford Union School in 
1900- 1901, is a descendant of Solomon and Hannah Butter- 
field. 

The following story is told by Hon. Edward B. Vree- 
land : "Just at the commencement of the Civil War my 
father (Simon Vreeland) bought the Salmon Chamberlain 
farm about three miles from Rushford village. I can just 
remember it as a very small boy. When the time for making 
the first yearly payment came around, my father drew from 
the Cuba National Bank the money he had saved up during 
the year to make the payment. The bank paid him in green- 
backs, the first that had been seen in Allegany County. 
When these were tendered in payment to Mr. Chamberlain, 
he strongly objected to receiving them, insisting that they 
had no value, that the result of accepting them would be to 
cheat him out of his farm. The result of it was that he 
paid back to my father the money that had been paid him 
on the purchase price and we moved back to Cuba, so I 
came very near being brought up near the village of Rush- 
ford." 



99 



Rush ford Families 

CHARLES HAPGOOD 

Emer Corse 

CHARLES HAPGOOD was born in Reading, Vermont, 
in 1790. He married in Rushford, November 5, 1820, 
Lucy, daughter of James Kendall. They lived many years 
on the West Branch road on the farm now owned by Riley 
Morrison, about a mile and a half from the village. To 
them were born seven children. Harrison, born in Rush- 
ford, November 5, 1824, married Adaline, daughter of 
Nathan C. Kimball, and after her death married, May 30, 
1868, Mrs. Aristone (Charles) Bannister; Harriet married 
Perry Corse ; she died when thirty-two years of age, leaving 
three young children ; Emily married William Emerson ; 
Dexter married Julia Corse and removed to Chautauqua 
County ; Charles, Jr., who remained single, lived in Roches- 
ter; Jane married George Williams and in the latter part of 
her life lived in Battle Creek, Michigan; Washington mar- 
ried Anna Bishop. Charles Hapgood died November 4, 
1847. Two of his grandchildren, Emer and Elbert Corse, 
live in Rushford. 



THE TAYLORS 

SILAS TAYLOR and Lydia Towne, both of Granby, 
Massachusetts, were married in South Hadley, Mas- 
sachusetts, April I, 1790. The children of Silas and Lydia 
Taylor were Ozial, Justus, Allen, Clarissa, Roxanna, all 
born in Granby, Massachusetts ; Roland, born in Connecti- 
cut ; Zebina, born in BrooUfield, Vermont; and Alzina, Ma- 

NoTE — The matter for this sketch was taken largely from the 
"History of John Taylor" by Elbert O. Taylor. 



The Taylors 

rilla and George, probably born in Wilbraham, Massachu- 
setts. 

Allen was the first of the Taylor family to "go West." 
A little before 1820, he started for the "Holland Purchase," 
a tract of land in Western New York which in 1800 had 
been opened for settlement. He made the journey on foot, 
and located a piece of land, known as lot 40, in the town 
of Rushford. Shortly after, he returned to Massachusetts, 
selling out his interest to a Mr. Hall, who built a house on 
the eastern half of the lot, occuping it, however, but a short 
time. In the spring of 1820, Ozial, then twenty-eight years 
of age, with but seven or eight dollars in his pocket, set 
out for the same place, footing it all the way, except when 
he could catch a ride. Upon his arrival he had only seventy- 
five cents left. With this he bought an ax and commenced 
clearing the western half of lot 40, where he built a log 
house. After living alone in it for several years, one of 
his sisters came from the East and kept house for him until 
her marriage. In 1823 Zebina came, having walked nearly 
all the way, as the others had done. He lived with Ozial 
two or three years, then returned to Massachusetts ; but 
in October, 1828, he and Allen, with their wives, and Riley 
made the journey, traveling with horses and wagons. Allen 
took back the land left by Mr. Hall, and Zebina located a 
little farther west. About 1830, Ozial returned to Massa- 
chusetts for his father and mother, Lydia and Silas, who 
lived with him until their deaths. About the time of Lydia's 
death, which occurred December 18, 1833, Roxanna and her 
husband, Laartus Fuller, came. 

These plucky pioneers chopped and cleared their lands, 
exchanging work to get oxen to do their logging, made 
potash and raised young cattle, thus paying the Holland 
Land Company in instalments for their homes. Ozial, Allen, 



Rush ford Families 

Zebina, Justus and George of Silas' sons, and Benoni, a half- 
brother of Silas, Riley and David, sons of Benoni, all lived 
at various times in one neighborhood, which came to be 
and still known as "Taylor Hill." Plin A. Taylor and 
his son, Roy, and Verner, Irwin and Elmer, sons of Edwin 
Taylor, are the Taylors now living on Taylor Hill. In 1877, 
Ansel M. Taylor moved from the old homestead to Rush- 
ford village where he engaged in mercantile business. He 
was a loyal and influential member of the Baptist Church, 
and a public-spirited man in the community. Plin A. Tay- 
lor, son of Allen, and Edwin Taylor, son of Zebina, are the 
only Taylors of their generation living in Rushford. Frank 
L. Taylor, son of Ansel M., and Dell, son of Philo, live on 
West Main Street in Rushford village. 



B. T. HAPGOOD AND FAMILY 
H. J. W. G. 

ABOUT the year 1821, Bates Turner Hapgood came 
from Windsor, Vermont, to Rushford. For a time 
he was in the employ of James McCall but it was not long 
before he opened a store and, being a man of good judg- 
ment and upright character he was prosperous in business. 
He purchased land on the west side of Lower Street not 
far from the bridge. The white house with green blinds 
and Greek columns, now owned by Dr. Fred C. Ballard, was 
built by him and was his home for many years. The balus- 
trade which once adorned the roof has long since been re- 
moved. 

In 1 82 1 Mr. Hapgood was baptized by a missionary 
and joined the First Baptist Church in Rushford. In 1847 
he was chosen deacon, having previously served his church 



B. T. Hapgood and Family 

as clerk. Being interested in educational matters, he was 
made president of the board of trustees when the Rush- 
ford Academy was organized in 1852. 

January 25, 1826, Bates T. Hapgood was united in 
marriage to Alzina Taylor, sister of Ozial Taylor. Lucia 
C, born March 27, 1831, was the only child of Bates Tur- 
ner and Alzina Hapgood who hved to maturity. She became 
the wife of Orrin T. Higgins of Rush ford, a man of pleas- 
ing address and fine business ability. By mercantile business, 
begim in Rush ford and later extended to other towns and' 
by investments in timber land in several Western States^ 
he accumulated a large property. 

Mrs. Higgins was a woman of engaging social quali- 
ties. Her ready wit is illustrated by the following anecdote : 
A doctor from the West was visiting in Rush ford. As he 
sat in the stores, he entertained people by telling stories. 
He said, among other things, that he had performed eight 
amputations of the leg in one day. "Was there a railroad 
accident?" inquired a physician present. "Oh, no," was the 
reply. Mrs. Higgins in making a journey through the West 
stopped at the place where the doctor lived. Upon her 
return, as a well known physician was passing the house,, 
she ran out .to the gate to tell him of her trip, saying that 
she had visited at the home of this doctor. "How large is 
the place where he lives?" inquired the physician. "Oh, 
it's about the size of East Rushford," said Mrs. Higgins, 
"but I noticed a peculiarity about the inhabitants^ — nearly 
every man had but one leg." When the Annual Confer- 
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church was held in Rush- 
ford in October, 1863, Mr. and Mrs. Higgins entertained 
the renowned Bishop Simpson. The pleasure must have 
been mutual, since a friendly correspondence ensued. 

The children of Orrin T. and Lucia C. Higgins were, 
103 



Rushford Families 

a child who died in infancy, Clara Alzina Hapgood who 
married Frank S. Smith of Angelica, and Frank Wayland 
who was born in Rushford, August i8, 1856. Frank Way- 
land Higgins was educated at the Rushford Union School, 
the Riverview Military Academy at Poughkeepsie and a 
Commercial College at Binghamton. While in business in 
Michigan, he married Katherine C. Nobles, daughter of 
Mrs. Aldura Bell Nobles, who formerly lived in Rushford. 
Soon after his marriage he removed to Olean, New York, 
where he resided until his death in 1907. His successes 
were not simply those of the merchant or banker. He 
served nine years as State Senator from the Fiftieth Dis- 
trict, two years as Lieutenant-Governor, and in 1904 was 
elected Governor of New York State. In a letter dated De- 
<;ember 7, 1904, R. C. Grames, Methodist minister, wrote the 
following: "Having a knowledge of Frank W. Higgins in 
his boyhood home, Rushford, and in his present home, 
Olean, for once in my life I turned aside from a straight 
Prohibition ticket, deeming it a privilege to help elect a man 
who will, I believe, govern this great State in fidelity and in- 
tegrity and for the best interests of the people." A lady 
who highly esteemed the late Governor Higgins, said that 
whenever he did her a favor, it was with so gracious a 
manner that it seemed as if he were the one who was being 
favored. On his fiftieth birthday Governor Higgins had 
a desire to visit the place of his birth, so, with two of his 
friends, he came in an automobile to Rushford. A picture 
taken at the time shows him standing on the steps of the 
house where he was born. This was his last visit to his 
native town. 

Bates Turner Hapgood, Alzina (Taylor) Hapgood, 
Lucia (Hapgood) Higgins and Orrin Thrall Higgins are all 
buried in the Rushford Cemetery. 

104 



THE TARBELLS 
H. J. W. G. 

ABOUT 1854 Thomas Tarbell, the fifth in Hne of de- 
scent by that name, with his wife, Esther (Smith) 
Tarbell, and six children, the youngest of whom was Jerusha 
(Mrs. James Gordon), moved from Groton, Massachusetts, 
to Mason, New Hampshire, where three other children were 
born. The youngest of these was Edward who, in Town- 
send, Massachusetts, December 14, 1786, married Rachel 
Hildreth. Many years of the married life of Edward and 
Rachel Tarbell were passed in Mason, New Hampshire, 
where, probably, all of their eleven children were born. 
Later they moved to Cavendish, Vermont. 

In 1820, two of their sons, James, a married man, and 
Abel, a boy of eighteen, left Cavendish, Vermont, for the 
Holland Purchase, with their belongings on a wood-shod 
sled drawn by a pair of steers. Since the journey was long, 
the steers became foot-sore, lying down whenever James 
and Abel stopped to talk with people by the way. When 
they arrived at Rushford, they had only a shilling between 
them. This they soon spent, then they went to work. They 
settled on lot fifty-two, about a mile and a half west of the 
village. The land is now owned by M. M. Tarbell. In 
1824 their father and mother and brother Joseph and sister 
Lucy came and lived with Abel, who at this time was un- 
married. In after years Abel used to tell of lumbering on 
the Baptist lot during the day and then cutting three-foot 
wood for the fireplace at night. 

Abel Tarbell married in Farmersville, New York. 
Julia Mills, who was born in Livermore, Maine. 
August 10, 1801. Their children were: Nelson, born 
in 1826; Mary (Mrs. Hosea B. Persons) ; Emeline 
(Mrs. William Babbitt) ; Amelia (Mrs. Igel Peck) ; Louis; 



Rnshford Families 

Alyra ( Airs. Oiiincy Chamberlain) ; and Miles M., who 
was born in 1840. Nelson married Lucinda, daughter of 
Salmon Chamberlain. Louis remained single. Miles mar- 
ried Elsie, daughter of Alonzo Farwell ; after her death 
he married Janette, daughter of John W. Hill; she died in 
November, 1874; he afterwards married Julia Bosworth, 
daughter of Emory Bosworth of Belmont. The sons of 
Abel and Julia Tarbell were farmers and the daughters , 
became the wives of farmers. At one time in their early 
married life, Mary, Emeline and Amelia all lived in the 
Cream Ridge school district. In 1881 Miles M. purchased 
the Tarbell House of which he is now the proprietor. He 
and Myra, who lives with her son at Farmers Valley, Penn- 
sylvania, are the only living children. Nelson died in Cuba, 
Emeline in Dunkirk, and Mary, Amelia and Louis in Rush- 
ford. 

Abel Tarbell and his wife were members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

In 182 1 ]\Irs. James Tarbell and her two children 
came from Vermont to Rushford where Dana was born. 
Not long after, James Tarbell and his family settled in 
Farmersville. One of his grandchildren, Mrs. W. W. Mer- 
rill, daughter of Dana, lives in Rushford. 

Four sisters of James and Abel Tarbell, Amelia (Mrs. 
Newberry Eddy), Edith (Mrs. Nahum Ames), Sally (Mrs. 
Asa Brooks), and Lucy (Mrs. Matthew P. Cady), settled 
in Rushford ; the other sisters, Mrs. Betsy Wright and Mrs. 
Rachel Hardy, remained in Vermont. 

The youngest descendant of Abel Tarbell. by the name 
of Tarbell, living in Rushford, is Theodore Hyde, son of 
another Abel Tarbell. 



106 



CHAPMAN BROOKS 
H. J. W. G. 

CHAPMAN BROOKS was born in Paris, Oneida County, 
October 9, 1799. In 1820, through the influence of 
Dr. Horatio Smith, he came to Rushford. coming afoot 
with a pack on his back. His first meal in town, which he 
ate at Ephraim White's on the hill this side of East Rush- 
ford, consisted of hulled corn and molasses. In 1821 he mar- 
ried Maria Roberts of Otisco, Onondaga County. They 
went on their wedding trip in a lumber wagon to Rushford, 
where they commenced housekeeping in a log house on 
the Cream Ridge road. This house had two large doors op- 
posite. They were surprised one day to see an Indian with 
a deer on his shoulders passing through the house. Since 
Mr. Brooks, when teaching school, left home Monday morn- 
ing and the neighbors were far away, sometimes Mrs. Brooks 
would not see a person to speak with until her husband re- 
turned Saturday night. 

Five children were born to them, Caroline (Mrs. Dr. 
W. B. Alley), Cynthia (Mrs. C. W. Woodworth), Mary 
J. (Mrs. S. R. Remington), Homer, who married Philinda, 
daughter of Elihu Talcott, Amelia (Mrs. D. Atkins). On 
this side of the hill south of the village where there is an 
old orchard and where roses bloom, Mrs. Woodworth was 
born in a log house. Homer Brooks was born April 22, 
1840, in the Brooks Hotel, now the Tarbell House, which 
his father kept a number of years. Mrs. Brooks used to 
tell with pride that she had baked a barrel of flour in one 
day. Mrs. Alley and Mrs. Atkins are living in Nunda, Mrs. 
Remington in Topeka, Kansas, and Homer Brooks in Rush- 
ford. Mrs. Woodworth died in Rushford in 1902. 

When Mr. Brooks considered himself still a middle- 
aged man, some one said to him, "Uncle Chapman." He 

107 




..■■»»''8W»'V''TOTT^«t™»»«*>- 

Cynthia A. Woodworth 



The Searls 

did not look up. Again, "Uncle Chapman." Still he did not 
look up. "Mr. Brooks." Then he heard. He was justice 
of the peace many years. His mental powers were good 
and with opportunity he would have made a scholar. He 
died in Rushford in 1880. 



THE SEARLS. 
H. J. W. G. 

DAVID SEARL was born in Rowley, Massachusetts, 
September 5, 1776. July 20, 1787, he married Judith 
Cragin of Temple, New Hampshire. Here three of their 
children were born. In 1791 they moved to Cavendish, Ver- 
mont, where fourteen other children were born to them. 
About 1814 David Searl with three children, David, Dolly 
and Lucy, set out for the Genesee country ; they reached 
Centerville, New York, and made their home on the top of 
Hamilton Hill. The next year the remaining members of 
the family came to Centerville. They lived here until 1823 
when Mr. Searl bought improved property in Rushford. 
His land was on Lower Street extending from Main Street 
south to the Chase farm, the boundary line of which was 
between what are now the residences of George Gant and 
Frank E. White. The Searls family lived in one of the first 
framed houses in the village. A part of this house is now 
a part of the dwelling of W. F. Benjamin, and it was 
built by Elder Warren Bannister. Later, on the east 
side of the street farther south, Mr. Searl built 
a house and shoeshop combined, back of which on 
land now owned by Miss Ellen Lyman, he had a tannery. 
He donated the land for the First Burying Ground in Rush- 
ford, reserving a right of way from West Main Street near 

109 



Rashford Families 
the big elm. The deed of this property from David and 
Judith Searl to David Searl, Horatio Smith and Matthew 
P. Cady, trustees, bears the date May i, 1832. 

David Searl and his wife returned to Centerville. He 
and his neighbor, James Tubbs, were both deaf in their 
later years. They used to meet at the line fence, and of 
course talked very loud. Afterwards Mr. Searl would say 
that he and Uncle jimmy had been talking privacy. David 
Searl died February 4, i854, and Judith Searl December 
16, 1859, at ninety-two years of age. 

Seventeen children were born to David and Judith Searl, 
two of whom died in infancy. Sarah married Lawson Hoyt 
of Connecticut. Dolly married Packard Bruce, one of the 
pioneers of Centerville. They were the parents of 
Mrs. Henry M. Teller, who was once a student in Rush- 
ford Academv. Salome married Justice Dayton of Canea- 
dea Saphronia married Rufus Adams. Alfred and David 
died at two years of age. Mary and Judith remianed 
single. Teremv remained single ; he is buried at Centerville. 
Nancy Harriet married Harry W. Bullock of Belvidere ; she 
died in 1831. Lucy married Milton McCall. David, 2nd, mar- 
ried Emily, sister'of Milton McCall. Daniel H. married Julia 
Lasell of Centerville. Steadman B. married Olive Lasell 
of Centerville. John D. V. died in 1830 at the age of 
twenty-four. David, 2nd, and his wife joined the Baptist 
Church in 1825. Steadman Searl and Lucy Searl McCall 
were also members of that church. The father and mother, 
Mary, Judith. Nancy Plarriet, Lucy, John and Olive, wife of 
Steadman, are buried in the First Burying Ground in Rush- 
ford. 

Daniel H. Searl was born in Cavendish, Vermont, Feb- 
ruary 22, 1804. At first he was connected with his father 
in the shoe shop and tannery ; later he conducted the busi- 



Samuel White 

ness alone. James Green was foreman of his shop in 1832, 
followed by John Doland in 1840. ATr. Searl sold his land 
to Washington White. In a Republican Era of November, 
1847, D. H. Searl advertises "Boots, Shoes and Clothing for 
sale in No. 5 Union Block at Riishford." About 1852 
he purchased the Oramel Grififin corner and carried on mer- 
chant tailoring for a few years. He was a far-seeing man. 
In the fifties he prophesied the steam harvester and the 
automobile. The Searls were prominent in the development 
of the town. 

XoTE — In writing the Searl paper I am indebted to Mrs. Har- 
riet Searl Haskins and Mrs. Augusta Searl Sheldon. — H. J. W. G. 

SAMUEL WHITE 
Helen J. White Gilbert 

SAMUEL WHITE, son of Thomas and Betsey (Lincoln) 
White, was born on his father's farm in Cavendish, 
Vermont. January 16, 1795. Percy Snow was born Novem- 
ber 8, 1797. She lived in a part of Cavendish called Whites- 
ville. Samuel White and Percy Snow were married, or, 
as Homer White of Randolph, \"ermont, once said, "Snow 
was made White," November 26, 1818. In the fall of 1821, 
with two small children, Washington and Henry Kirke, 
they left Cavendish for the Holland Purchase. After reach- 
ing Rushford they purchased seventy-five acres of land on 
the east side of Upper Street, portions of which are now 
owned by Ida (White) Woods of Rushford and Newell 
White of East Aurora, grandchildren of Samuel White. 

The house which he built by degrees is in part occu- 
pied by Airs. Jane \Miite and her daughter, Jennie. In the 
early day it was of New England fashion, with a long slop- 
ing back roof, a large hall in the center and small window 



Rush ford Families 




Frank E. White and Sons, Thomas and Robert 

lights. It was painted red, trimmed with white, and had 
green blinds. Stone steps led from the street to the front 
door and in the narrow front yard were balsam trees. It is 
said that in this house he kept store and kept tavern, a fav- 
orite occupation of the early settlers. 

The first schoolhouse in town was a log building which 
stood where the store of F. H. Metcalf and Company now 
stands. It was here that Samuel White, the teacher, said 
to a strapping boy, "Take off your coat, sir!" Someone has 
said that nothing has made so many boys smart as the black 
birch of New England. Wilson Gordon of Topeka says that 
Samuel White was the best mathematician in town. His 



I 



Sanuicl White 

name appears as a surveyor in the town records of Rush- 
ford of the year 1822. He framed the Academy and all 
but one of the churches in the village. Six years he was 
supervisor of the town, having been elected the first time 
in 1826. He was justice of the peace so many years that he 
was usually spoken of as "Square" White. More than 
anywhere else one could find Samuel White seated before a 
large desk writing. Among the papers which he left is a 
letter with regard to two Revolutionary pension claims. It 
is dated July 21, 1854, and signed by Jeft'erson Davis, Sec- 
retary of War. 

How fond he was of children ! One of his grand- 
children recalls with pleasure the following little incident : 
Arlie.* Frankf and George§ were standing back of a chair, 
playing they were calves, and grandpa with a bowl of bread 
and milk was feeding them between the slats. When 
grandma said, "You'll spill that milk feeding them in here," 
he answered, "No. I won't," and on he kept. Wlien Henry 
brought home his young bride, Marena Sears, the mother, 
an embodiment of New England thrift, started them in life 
with this advice, "You must make one hand wash the other." 
In speaking of washing machines Mr. White once said, "In 
the old times they had washing machines that could scold." 
When the grist mill at East Rushford burned, Mr. White 
vvith many others took his pail and went to the fire. The 
next morning when the family were speaking of the fire 
he said, "What fire?" To their surprise he knew nothing 
of having been out the night before. 

The foundry that stood on the corner of Main and 
Church Streets, next to Mrs. Laning's, was erected in 1844 
by James and Luther Gordon, but during almost its entire 

*Mrs. A die White Ives. 
tF. E. White. 
§George Blanchard. 

113 




jii.*SS»». 




Henry Kirke White 



Samuel White 

existence it was owned by one or more members of the White 
family. Samuel White had the first cider mill in town. His 
second cider mill was built on the hillside back of H. K. 
White's (now Mrs. D. W. Woods') house. In the upper 
part of the mill were two upright wooden cylinders, on 
one of which were knobs fitting loosely into holes in the 
other. Between these cylinders, wliich worked in opposite 
directions, the apples were crushed, the pomace falling into 
a large shallow vat. A horse walking in a circle around 
the vat, moved the lever which turned the motor wheel. In 
the lower part of the mill was a grooved platform on which 
straw was placed, then a layer of pomace, then straw, and 
so on till the cheese was about three feet high. A board 
cover was then placed on top and the mass pressed by means 
of blocks, a screw and a hand lever, until all the juice had 
trickled into the tub below. The cider was then barrelled 
and drawn away by the farmers who had brought their ap- 
ples to be ground. 

Not long since a man spoke of Oliver Benjamin, E. 
P. Richards, James Green and Samuel White, supporters of 
the Universalist Church, as men noted for uprightness of 
character. Samuel White was too honest to trade horses. 
He would bring a rack-a-bones into the yard and take it 
away fat, to return with another hungry horse. Since he 
was extremely hospitable, no one was ever in his house 
about meal time without being urged to stay to the meal. 
Although he was temperate in all things, the pitcher of 
cider was always on the bureau, near his compass, and 
each caller was asked to partake. This was courtesy. 

He used to say that he was one-quarter Irish. He 
might have said that his grandfather, Samuel White, was 
a Revolutionary captain, that he was descended from one 
\\'illiam White, a Mayflower pilgrim and that John White, 

115 



Rush ford Families 

a bishop in the Church of England, was an ancestor of his, 
but he did not, he was a modest man. I can see him now, 
short, square-built, dignified, kindly. How I love to do 
him honor! 

Samuel White died May 15, 1874, and Percy White 
died September 20, 1875. Four of their children were born 
in Rushford, Ouincy in 1823, Thomas Jefferson in 1826, 
Ellen in 183 1, and Stellah in 1835. Washington White and 
Abigail Willard were married by the Rev. C. W. Gillam, at 
the home of Joel Griffin, January 25, 1844. Washington 
was for many years a merchant in Rushford. He, with 
Congdon and Dickinson, built the Concrete Block. Henry 
White and Marena Sears were married at the home of 
Elmer Sears in Great Valley, July 16, 1843. Quincy White 
and Emily Blanchard were married by the Rev. Mr. Lord, 
October 23, 185 1. After the death of Emily, Quincy mar- 
ried, September 10, 1862, Jane Blanchard, a cousin of his 
first wife. For many years he and Barnes Blanchard owned 
the foundry. Stellah married Barnes Blanchard, July 18, 
1855. Henry, Quincy and Stellah lived nearly all their 
lives on the street on which they were born. Thomas mar- 
ried Adaline Swift, June 21, 1856. He died in the Civil 
War. Ellen married John A. Hubbell, May 13, 1856. She 
now lives in Oklahoma and is the only surviving child of 
Samuel and Percy White. The other children all died in 
Rushford, Washington in 1889, Quincy the same year, 
Henry Kirke in 1894, and Stellah in 1900. 

THE GRIFFINS 
H. J. W. G. 

ORAMEL GRIFFIN, son of Joel and Submit Griffin, 
was born in S wanton, Vermont, March 26, 1794. In 
early life he removed with his parents to Malone, then in 

116 



The Griffins 

St. Lawrence County, where he experienced the struggles 
incident to a pioneer Hfe. After laboring all day he would 
study at night by the light of burning chips. On reaching 
maturity he started out to seek his fortune, commencing in 
Moscow, Livingston County, where he was first a clerk, 
then a teacher, and finally a partner of one of his employers. 
In 1822 he opened, in a log building, the second store in 
Rushford. 

For a time he boarded at Cephas Young's tavern where 
he was taken ill and was nursed by Miss Caroline Gary, 
daughter of Eneas Gary, who afterwards became his wife. 
Mrs. Griffin died February, 1848, leaving in his care three 
children, Lovina, Solon W., and Jackson. Mr. Griffin never 
married again. When Mr. H. B. Ackerly was a boy he 
went with his mother to Oramel Griffin's store. Hearing 
music he asked his mother what it was. "It's a piano," she 
replied. It belonged to Miss Achsah Griffin, daughter of 
Oramel Griffin, and was the first piano brought into town. 

In 1848 Mr. Griffin seemed to be preparing to leave 
Rushford as he wished all notes and accounts to be paid, 
and advertised for sale "his valuable property on the corner 
of Main and Commercial Streets in the village of Rushford, 
consisting of a store and dwelling house attached, a store 
house, two dwelling houses, an office, barns, and lots of 
about one-fourth acre each." About 1850 he made a large 
purchase of land in the town of Caneadea and moved to 
Oramel, a place named in his honor, which sprang up as if 
by magic on the Genesee Valley Canal of which it was for 
some time a terminus. Later in life he was engaged in 
business operations in the Western States where three of 
his four children settled. 

Mr. Griffin was an energetic and successful business 
man, able to help those less favored than he. He was 

117 



Rush ford Families 

also a liberal contributor to public institutions. After he 
retired from business he resided during the winter of each 
year with his daughter Lovina (Mrs. George Prentis) at 
Detroit, Michigan, and during the summer with his daughter 
Achsah (Mrs. Alarshall B. Champlain) at Cuba, Allegany 
County, where he died September 5, 1877. 



JOEL GRIFFIN, JR. 

Joel Griffin, Jr.. brother of Oramel, was born in 1800. 
In 1838 or 1839 he and his wife, Clarissa, with their only 
child, Wolcott, moved from Malone, now in Franklin 
County, to Rushford. They lived at first on the west side 
of Upper Street across the road from Samuel White's. The 
house was afterward owned and occupied by James Wier. 
By occupation Joel Griffin, Jr., was a small farmer and pro- 
duce dealer. In 1864 Wolcott Griffin was engaged in the 
mercantile business on the corner of Main and Lower 
Streets. The back room of his store where his father had 
stored some honey, went down the stream at the time of 
the flood. That night he called his father and told him that 
the lower part of the town was all being washed away. "Is 
my honey safe?" was the reply. Clarissa Griffin lived in 
Rushford until her death, October 16, 1869. Joel Griffin, 
Jr.. died in Michigan, April 22, 1871. 

Wolcott Griffin married for his first wife, Rosina G. 
Bush of Pike, daughter of Alexander Bush. She was the 
mother of his only child, Ella. He was an active member 
of the IMethodist Episcopal Church and at one time super- 
intendent of the Sunday School. In 1870 he moved to 
Michigan where he passed the remainder of his life, dying 
May 4, 1892. 



118 



Rushford Families 

GEORGE SCOTT 

H. J. W. G. 

GEORGE SCOTT, born February 9, 1795, was the son 
of Calvin Scott, a doctor, who Uved in Belchertown, 
Massachusetts, and had slaves to do his bidding, both in- 
doors and out. With his fair complexion and sharp blue 
•eyes, George Scott was a fine looking young man. Febru- 
ary 22, 1 82 1, he and Mariah Converse were married. In 
two years he set out for the Holland Purchase, leaving 
behind him his wife and two young children, George and 
Calvin. With the assistance of Lowell Wright, they soon 
followed Mr. Scott to Rushford and settled on the "Old 
Injun Road" long since discarded. ( It extended from the 
Cuba road to the West Branch road.) On the farm of 
the Ackerly Company there is a clearing of about twelve 
acres which, until recently, was surrounded by woods and 
known as the Lowell Wright clearing. It was on the "Old 
Injun Road." From this place George Scott moved to the 
Amos Rose farm, now owned by Walter Howard. Later 
he moved to Taylor Hill, south of the Six Corners. Eight 
children were born to George and Mariah Scott in Rushford : 
Laura (Mrs. Elisha Straight), 1824; Dwight, 1826; Martha 
Malona (Mrs. Wm. Drake), 1828; EmeHne (Mrs. Thomas 
Dunlap), 1830; Lyman L., 1832; John, 1836; Jason, 1840; 
and Henry, 1842. Mr. Scott's brother William always lived 
with him. 

George Scott had a running horse that could not be 
beat. The race course was Lower Street and the rider 
Henry Kirke White. Some men came from a distance to 
purchase the horse. They thought Mr. Scott asked too 
much so they invited him down town, thinking that if they 
treated him the horse would be cheaper, but instead he 



George Scott 

came up ten dollars. They treated him again and he came up 
ten dollars more. When someone was laughing at him be- 
cause he did not have any wood split he replied, "It's a 
mighty lazy man that can't get up in the morning and split 
enough wood for his wife to get breakfast." After a gen- 
eral training he was on a horse with another man to ride 
home; when the horse commenced to kick up, "Go on," he 
said, "my end's going." 

No one in all the country round could draw forth 
from a violin such strains of music as George Scott. The 
instrument would almost speak under his touch. He fre- 
quently played for dances. He played upon the violin at 
the weddings of Alvin Frost and Sally Bosworth, Thursa 
Frost and George Scott, Jr., and Margaret Scott and Mar- 
cus Eaton, enlivening with his music the weddings of three 
generations. The jaw-breaking names of the Holland Land 
Company were set to music and sung by him. 

Four of his children are now living, Henry in New 
Hudson, Jason in Troy, Michigan, Lyman in Canandaigua, 
and Dwight in Rushford. George Scott lived to be eighty- 
one years old and his wife nearly ninety-one. They are 
buried in the Bellville Cemetery. The grandchildren of 
George and Mariah Scott living in Rushford are : Mrs. Marga- 
ret Eaton and Milton Scott, children of George ; Mrs. Min- 
nie Cooper, Mrs. Bertha Hogg and Jason Scott, children of 
Dwight; and Mrs. Belle (Dunlap) Lafferty. 

Note — George Scott, Sr.. sold his farm on the Cuba road to 
Daniel Baird who in turn sold it to Robert Morrow. 



1^1 



c 



Rush ford Families 

CHARLES WHITE 

H. J. W. G. 

HARLES WHITE, son of Thomas and Betsy (Lin- 
coln)* White, and grandson of Capt. Samuel and 
Thankful (Gilbert) White, was born on his father's farm 
in Cavendish, \^ermont. in September, 1800. He and his 
brother Samuel were the only children of his father's family 
who settled in Rushford. In 1825 he married Harriet Sophia 
Swift, daughter of Heman and Ann Swift. In October, 
183 1, Charles White was baptized by Elder Absalom Miner 
and received into the First Baptist Church of Rushford. 
His wife, Harriet, joined this church at the same time, hav- 
ing previously been a member of the Freewill Baptist 
Church. At the seventy-fifth anniversary of the organiza- 
tion of the First Baptist Church, "Aunt Harriet" was pres- 
ent and made some remarks, since she had been a member 
of the church fifty-nine years. She was a helpful, sweet- 
faced woman whom everybody loved. 

The children of Charles and Harriet White were Sophia 
(Mrs. Ebenezer Perry), George, Luther, Otis, Martin and 
Percy (Mrs. Jacob S. Van Dusen). 

In the forties Charles White and family were living 
in the EngHsh district on the Mt. Monroe road. On the 
run about a quarter of a mile south of the schoolhouse, was 
his cooper shop. His house was on the high land twenty 
rods north of the shop. 

Charles White died at East Rushford, February 16, 
1857. Harriet White died in Podonque at the home of her 
daughter, Mrs. J. S. Van Dusen, September i, 1892. 

Sophia White Perry died in Wisconsin in i860, when 

*The descendants of Betsey (Lincoln) White are distantly re- 
lated to Abraham Lincoln. 




Mrs. Harriet Swift White 



Rush ford Families 

thirty-four years of age. George White married Ann Eng- 
lish in 1850. In 1850 he was running a blacksmith shop 
on Upper Street in Rushford. The next year he went to 
Wisconsin where he remained until 1906, when he and his 
wife returned to Rushford where he died in October, 1909. 
at the home of Victoria Gordon. Luther married Achsah 
Chamberlain. After her death, he married Kate Van 
Dusen. Of her the Rev. Mark Kelley once said, "Very 
often there rises before me the picture of Sister Kate 
White speaking in prayer or class meeting. More than once 
did she overcome by the word of her testimony, and in my 
soul, at least, 'she being dead, yet speaketh.' " Luther 
White was a blacksmith and lived in Rushford on LTpper 
Street, in the house now owned by Irving Glaus. Otis mar- 
ried Julia Van Dusen. For a number of years they lived 
on his farm in East Rushford. The latter part of his life 
he was a Wesleyan Methodist minister. Martin died in the 
Civil War. 

lone, William, Charles and George Van Dusen are the 
only grandchildren of Charles and Harriet White now liv- 
ing in Rushford. 



JOSEPH BELL 
Mary Bell Dickey 

JOSEPH BELL, the youngest of the twelve children 
of Jonathan and Deborah Bell, was born in Goffstown, 
New Hampshire, August 10, 1805. His father fought in 
the battle of Bunker Hill and did other service in the War 
of the Revolution. Joseph Bell, when a lad, was appren- 
ticed to learn the shoemaker's trade in Manchester, New 
Hampshire. At the age of nineteen he started for New 

124 



b 



Joseph Bell 

York State where his brothers, Russell and Rodney, had 
already settled in New Hudson. At Rochester he was of- 
fered a hundred acres of land for his horse, but he refused 
the offer and continued his journey to Rushford where he 
soon found employment. 

In 1830 he married Lydia Elvira Dunham to whom 
were born the following children : Minerva M., Martin A., 
William R., Lois A., James J. and Lauraette, whose death 
at the age of three years, March 15, 1843, ^^^ the first in 
the family. The m.other died March 22. 1849, just after 
moving into the new house. September 14, 185 1, Mr. Bell 
was married to Matilda Coburn at the home of her brother, 
Miner Coburn, in Covert, New York, by the Rev. Chaun- 
cey Wardner, who had formerly been pastor at Rushford. 
To them were born two children, Mary C. and Nellie E. 

When Mr. Bell first came to Rushford he was em- 
ployed in a shoemaker's shop, later he became a partner 
and finally sole owner of the business. Many pairs of boots 
with red morocco tops, at five dollars a pair, were made in 
his shop in the chambers of the old town hall. By severe 
toil and close economy he built up a prosperous business. 
Beside his shoeshop, he managed his farm, which he bought 
of Samson Hardy, and his tannery. At first the bark used 
in the tannery was ground by hand, afterwards horse power 
was used and finally, in 1849, steam was put in. Some 
years later, the townspeople, by subscription put in a steam 
whistle which was blown three times a day and in case of 
fire. November 29, 1867, his youngest son, James J., was 
killed by an explosion of the boiler in the tannery. A. J. 
Colburn then bought an interest in the tannery and it was 
repaired and enlarged. 

Mr. Bell bought a great many hides, and frequently 
made trips to the West for them. At the beginning of the 

125 



Rush ford Families 

cheese industry, he often went to Canada, bought cows and 
drove them home. In 1872 Mr. Bell with his wife and 
younger children moved to Michigan. He first located in 
Jonia. Afterwards he went into the mercantile business in. 
Maple Rapids. While he lived in Ionia, Mr. O. T. Higgins 
of Rushford and Mr. D. B. Sill of Cuba visited him, after 
taking a trip into the pine woods of Northern Michigan 
buying land. On this trip Mr. Higgins and his guide were 
lost in the woods for several days. He said that the bounti- 
ful dinner of which he was then partaking did not taste as 
good as his meal in the woods during those days of short 
rations, when he held hard-tack under a piece of pork to 
catch the drippings. 

But nothing could wean Mr. Bell from the associations 
of former days, so after a residence of five years in Michi- 
gan, he returned to his home in Rushford where he passed 
his declining years among his friends and relatives, whom 
he was so fond of entertaining at his home. The old-time 
hospitality was often mentioned by him as one of the pleas- 
ant features of his early days, and emphasized by the 
statement that at one time he was acquainted with every man 
in the township. 

He was early associated with the Baptist Church of 
Rushford. He was baptized in the spring of 1838, in a hole 
cut in the ice in the creek back of the tannery. For forty- 
five years he was a faithful member of the church and gave 
very substantially to its support. In politics Mr. Bell was 
an Abolitionist and also a great admirer of Mr. Cole of 
Wellsville, "the father of the Republican party." During 
the war a group of men, including Mr. John Holmes, Mr. 
Latham Higgins, Deacon Hapgood and Mr. Bell, used to 
gather at the store of Mr. O. T. Higgins where Deacon 
Hapgood read aloud the war news in the N'cw York Daily 

126 



Rufus Adams 

Tribune. This meeting was laughingly called the "Con- 
gress." 

For two years prior to his death Mr. Bell's health grad- 
ually failed, and he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. 
Lois Ferguson, in Geneseo, October 3, 1883, while on his 
way to Avon for treatment. His life was full of vicissi- 
tudes, such as are common to humanity, but at his death 
he was an honored and substantial citizen of Rushford. 

Note — The house now owned by "Sirs. ArHe Ives was Mr. 
Bell's home. The tannerj- was back of his house. He also owned 
the house now belonging to Robert Murray. A. Fraser was the last 
owner of the tannery. — G. 



RUFUS ADAMS 
Viola Adams Farwell 

RUFUS ADAMS belonged to the great family of 
Adamses of Massachusetts, among whose members 
have been men distinguished in letters and in affairs of 
state. Rufus Adams was born in Chelmsford, Massachu- 
setts, in 179T. About •1817 he came to Arcade, Wyoming 
County, where he bought land and commenced building a 
carding mill, but he was taken ill so he returned home. 
In 1819 he married Saphronia, daughter of David Searl of 
Rowley, Massachusetts. With his wife and son, Alfred, he 
came to Rushford from Cavendish, Vermont, in 1824, and 
bought the farm one and one-half miles north of the village, 
now occupied by his great-grandson, Dorrance Farwell. 
He lived in a log house about three rods south of the pres- 
ent framed one. which was built in 1828 from pine grown 
on the farm. Some of the trees used were four feet in 
diameter. In the house were four fire-places and a large 



Rush ford Families 

brick bake-oven. He occasionally made a trip to Caven- 
dish. Vermont, to visit his sister, Mrs. Joseph White, whose 
husband was a relative of Samuel White of Rushford. 

The children of Rufus and Saphronia Adams were: 
Alfred Rufus. who in 1846 married Lucinda Acker; Saphro- 
nia Gilbert, who in 1848 married John Fletcher Gordon; and 
Salome Searl, who in 1848 married Jacob Weslar of Cuba. 
After living in Cuba a number of years. Jacob Weslar and 
his family moved to Pine Grove, Michigan. 

Rufus Adams was frugal, yet on the Sabbath day he 
appeared in broadcloth. In matters of religion he was strict, 
yet emotional ; he was one of the original members of the 
Free Methodist Church. He died at Pine Grove, Michigan, 
October 2C. 1871. 

Among his grandchildren are Frank W. and Lucy R. 
Gordon, Viola Adams Farwell and Arvilla Adams Farwell. 



MICAH HALL 
H. J. W. G. 

MICAH HALL was born in 1807 in Plattsburg, Clinton 
County, New York. When about twelve years of 
age he came with his father, Thomas Hall, to Wayne County, 
traversing the whole distance with an ox team. When six- 
teen years of age he came to Rushford where his brother, 
Solomon Hall, was living. Angeline Furlong from Galen, 
Wayne County, came to visit her sister, Mrs. Solomon Hall. 
Young Micah Hall saw her, loved her, and married her at 
the home of her sister who lived on a crossroad then ex- 
tending through the Alma lot back of the house now owned 
by George Eaton. Her father objected to the marriage be- 
cause Micah was a poor man; and so he was, for after pay- 

128 



Micah Hall 

ing the preacher he had only enough money to buy an axe. 
He bought fifty acres of land of the Holland Land Company 
and they commenced housekeeping with nothing but a 
chest in a log house on the County Line Road. The neigh- 
bors gave them a teakettle, a few dishes and a quilt. Mr. 
Hall soon built a bedstead into the corner of the room, by 
fastening saplings to the walls, so that only one post was 
needed. When Mrs. Hall's father came from Wayne 
County to visit them and saw they were getting on in the 
world, he said, "Some folks will get a living ofif a stone." 
As Thomas Hall, then living in Rushford, was a Baptist 
exhorter, he was called to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, to 
preach. Micah Hall then bought of him one hundred acres 
of land partly improved. Later he purchased fifty acres of 
Sam Moore and fifty acres of Mr. Hicks, making two hun- 
dred and fifty acres in his home farm. At one time there 
were four houses on his farm. When he lived in a log 
house, south of the house now owned by Thomas Tapp, 
the trees were so near the house that his wife went out of 
doors while they were being felled. Later he lived in a log 
house by a spring north of the place where, about 1850, he 
built the large frame dwelling where his grandson. Herman 
Morrison, now lives. 

Below the house near the bridge was a deer lick where 
he would climb a tree to watch for deer. He started out 
one morning before breakfast and was gone so long that his 
wife became anxious and taking her six-months-old baby in 
her arms started to find him. She met him carrying a 
large fish. Pie took the baby and she took the fish, saying 
that he had the better end of the bargain, the fish was so 
heavy. About seventy-five years ago when he was working 
in the woods, a swarm of bees lighted on some brush near 
him. He went to the house, sawed a barrel in two and put 

129 



Rushford Families 

them in. That was the beginning of what came to be two 
hundred swarms. Mrs. Hall always cared for the bees. 
One year he raised one thousand bushels of wheat on a 
forty-acres lot which he plowed in one land, going round 
it twice in one day, plowing by starlight in the morning and 
hy starlight at night. Mr. and Mrs. Hall enjoyed the com- 
pany of young people and treated them to delicious warm 
biscuit and honey when they came to visit them. Mr. Hall 
was a quiet man fond of reading, especially of reading his- 
tory. His family enjoyed listening to him when he read 
aloud. He was an upright man, frugal yet ready to help in 
a worthy cause. Mrs. Hall was baptized in 183 1 by Rev. 
Absalom Miner, pastor of the Baptist Church in Rushford. 
Mr. Hall never belonged to any organization and even re- 
fused the nomination to the office of supervisor. He always 
voted with his party which was first Whig, and then Repub- 
lican. 

His children were: Elmira, who died young; Arvilla, 
who lived to be twenty-one years of age; Harriet (Mrs. 
Chauncey Williams, deceased) ; Henrietta (Mrs. Randolph 
Morrison), and Sylvester, who enlisted in the Civil War 
and died while home on a furlough. Julia Baker, a niece of 
Mrs. Hall, was one of the family from the time she was 
nine years of age until her marriage to Albert Pettit. Micah 
Hall died September 29, 1879, in the house which he built 
on his land below Hardy's Corners. 



Note— Part of the matter for this paper was furnished by 
Mrs. Henrietta ?iIorrison. 



130 



THE SEXTONS 
H. J. W. G. 

THE Sextons came to Rushford in 1825 from the town 
of Phelps, New York. When they reached the top 
of the Centerville hill the first driver stopped and said, 
"We will camp here for we will never get any higher." They 
were a week on their journey. In 1826 David Sexton re- 
ceived from the Holland Land Company a deed for sixty 
acres of land on both sides of Lower Street, extending 
from the land now owned by George Gant to that now 
owned by Verna Gordon Tarbell. In 1830 he bought of 
William Gordon twenty-seven acres -which included a part 
of the present Chase farm and extended to the Gordon- 
ville bridge. He lived several years in a log house just 
north of Caneadea Creek on land now owned by Lannis 
Damon. 

There was a black ash swamp near what is now Fred 
G. Gordon's feed store, north of the abandoned roadbed of 
the T. V. and C. R. R., and a swamp extending from 
Lucian Hardy's house back of Dr. Ballard's house, to West 
Main Street, but the rising ground between them was 
always dry. There w^ere great numbers of elm trees on 
the Sexton farm where Indians came and camped every 
summer. They made baskets, killed deer, built stone piles 
and smoked meat. One day as Mrs. Sexton sat spinning, 
she heard a sound and looking up saw two Indians with 
a great buck deer on their shoulders stalking through the 
house. The large doors were opposite each other. An- 
other day after being out picking berries she came back 
to the house to find an Indian asleep in front of the fire 
place. The latch string was always out and the fire never. 

Note — Miss Ruth Tousley of Jamestown, a great-grand-daugh- 
ter of David Sexton, contributed part of the matter for this paper. 

131 



Rush ford Families 

She did not disturb him, but when he awoke gave him 
some bread and meat which he never forgot. 

In 1835 David Sexton sold his farm to Caleb Chase 
and worked at his trade, that of carpentering. The chil- 
dren of David Sexton were Sophia (Mrs. Chauncey Mc- 
Donald) ; Clark, a merchant, who married Matilda Pear- 
son of Brooklyn ; Farrington ; Crane, who married Maria 
Babcock of Cazenovia ; Thomas ; Cornelia, who married 
John Holmes, a wagon maker; Ruth, who married Stephen 
Parker, a hotel keeper, and Bradford, who • died young. 
The frame house which Chauncey McDonald had built 
for himself was one of the first in town. It stood near the 
Lower Street bridge, north of the creek. It was occupied 
for a number of years by Mrs. Orsavilla Hall, grand- 
daughter of David Sexton. Having been undermined by 
high water, it has recently been torn down. In 1827 Ruth 
Sexton was given a certificate to teach school, signed by 
E. B. Wightman, James Going and Chapman Brooks. The 
Sextons were Republicans. Crane Sexton was Deputy 
Sheriff a number of years, an office of which he was very 
proud. They were all church-going people. David Sexton 
died in 1839, aged seventy years, and lies buried in the 
"First Burying Ground" in Rushford. 

Myron Sexton, cousin of David Sexton, and father of 
Morris Sexton, was a well-to-do farmer. 



ALVIN K. MORSE 
H. J. W. G. 

AL\TN K. MORSE was born in Connecticut about half 
way between Hartford and New Haven, March 9, 
1794. He and his brother Harden came to Schoharie, New 
York, and learned the hatter's trade. They then went 

132 



Alvin K. Morse 

from city to city, as to Pittsburg and Philadelphia, work- 
ing for one firm in a place. Monday morning the fur for 
the week's work would be weighed out. Mr. Morse some- 
times earned sixty dollars a week. He said that fur must 
be worked according to the motion of the animal, that on 
mink fur one must work like lightning. He was employed 
in Buffalo by a man named Bull, when the War of 1812 
broke out. After the city was burned he enlisted. He 
received from the government a land warrant for one 
hundred and sixty acres near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 
which he sold for one hundred and sixty dollars. 

March, 1816, in Penfield, New Jersey, he married Sally 
Rolph. After two years they with their two children, 
Squire and Phineas, came in a covered wagon to Perry, 
New York, having traveled four hundred miles. He bought 
one hundred acres of hard wood timber in the town of 
Covington. After clearing a part, he put in a piece of 
winter wheat. When he came to Perry wheat was worth 
three dollars a bushel, but the next year it was worth only 
two shillings sixpence and must be drawn to York Landing. 
At this time calico was worth five shillings a yard, but it 
was fine, firm and glossy. Three children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Morse in Covington, Louvisa, Marcia and 
James. 

Mr. Morse became discouraged because of the low 
price of wheat, so, since his brother-in-law, Thaddeus Elliott, 
kept writing to him to come to Allegany County, after 
his spring's work was done, he came to Centerville on a 
visit. The trees had just leaved out and he thought he had 
never seen so fine a country, so he moved his family to 
Rush ford, having bought the farm now owned by John 
J. Thomas. They lived in constant fear of bears and 
wolves. Once when Mrs. Morse was alone she saw a 

133 



Rush ford Families 

bear near the house. Elijah Freeman was passing, so she 
called to him to come and shoot the bear through the win- 
dow. He said that he had never fired ofif a gun. "Then 
load it and I will fire it off." "I never loaded one." "Then 
call John Johnson." The bear heard the man's voice and 
went through the woods to Eneas Gary's where two men 
were chopping. One of them slung his ax at the bear, 
but bruin escaped. Later Mr. Morse moved to Podonque 
near Asa Benjamin's onto what is now the Hallstead farm. 
Alvin K., Jr., Lewis, Asa G., Amos, Ellen, Cynthia 
(Mrs. Wm. Hallstead) and Sarah (Mrs. L. Meade) were 
all born in Rushford. Asa G. Morse says that when a 
boy he came with oxen and sled to revival meetings in 
the old Methodist Church. Alvin K. Morse lived seventy 
years. 



THE SMITHS 
Irene Smith Kendall 

ALFRED SMITH, a son of Elihu Smith, who was a 
Connecticut sailor, was born February 4, 1798, and 
was married to Polly Brandow at Windham, Greene County, 
New York, February 5, 1821. On April 13, 1824, a son, 
Cornelius Kimber Benham Smith, was born to them. About 
two years after this happy event they decided to move 
farther west, so they started out with an ox team and cart 
containing a few necessities, including their pewter dishes, 
Polly's sampler and the set of pink and white china dishes 
given to them by her mother, Elizabeth Brandow, on their 
wedding day. 

They located a few miles east of Leroy, in the nighbor- 
hood where Alfred had two sisters living, and stayed there 

134 




C. K. B. Smith 



Rushford Families 

until the spring of 1828, when they again started out with 
the ox team and cart, locating on a hundred acres of land 
in the western part of the town of Rushford and building 
a log house on the south side of the Rushford and Farmers- 
ville road, just east of the county Hue. Later he got out 
timber and built a frame house on the West Branch and 
Hardy's Corners road, now owned and occupied by their 
grandson, Grant H. Smith. Alfred was an industrious and 
thrifty farmer, proud of a good ox team, one of which 
ihe always owned. Some of the old neighbors tell the story 
•of his winding a log chain around his body and walking three 
times in one day to Rushford village to have it welded, 
feeling very proud that he owned an ox team strong 
■enough to break it so many times. I have been told that 
Alfred and Kimber in clearing a certain piece of land got 
up at three o'clock in the morning and worked until nine 
■o'clock at night, day after day, coming home to dinner and 
carrying a lunch both forenoon and afternoon. That is 
working, and let me add that Polly milked the eight cows 
and did all the other chores as well as the housework. 

Alfred died May 21, 1873, and was buried at Rushford. 
Polly Brandow was the seventh child of Henry and Eliza- 
beth Austin Brandow. She was born at Windham, New 
York, January 19, 1803. 

She studied medicine for several years before her mar- 
riage with the local doctor, Benham. and became thor- 
oughly acquainted with all medicinal herbs, the proper time 
and manner of gathering and preserving them, also what 
each was used for and how to prepare and administer it. 
In later life she spent many days at different seasons of 
the year walking through the woods and pastures with a 
basket on her arm gathering roots, barks and herbs. She 
used one room of her house as an "herb chamber." People 

136 



The Smiths 

came from near and far to consult "Aunt Polly" and get 
her herbs. She boasted of having many times cured people 
after the regular physician had given them up. Her suc- 
cess was due partly to the fact that she would go into their 
homes and give them good care. She loved the society of 
young people and would amuse them and herself also by 
telling fortunes and especially by telling ghost stories until 
even the young men dared not go home alone, then to her 
great delight, she would escort them home. She was a 
strong temperance woman but did love her snuff. She died 
December 6, 1880, and was buried in the Rush ford Cemetery. 

C. Kimber B., their only child, was a bright, studious 
boy. He obtained his higher education by attending "select 
school" at Farmersville and Rushford. He taught very 
successfully several terms at Cream Ridge, on the Grant 
(as Hardy's Corners was then called) and at Podonque 
where in 1845 ^^ had fifty-four pupils according to a reg- 
ister kept by him at that time. 

November 6, 1849, at her home on the farm now 
owned by Evan James at Hardy's Corners, C. Kimber 
Smith was united in marriage to Martha Maria Howe, 
second daughter of E. Kingsbury Howe and Matilda Mc- 
Call Howe, and a granddaughter of Judge James McCall. 
M. Maria was born September 30, 1827. She, being very 
pretty and lovable, was called one of the belles of the town. 
She was a tailoress by trade and a fine seamstress. Before 
her marriage she went round from one house to another 
doing up the annual sewing for the family. She and her 
husband started housekeeping in a part of the house where 
Alfred and Polly lived. It is now occupied by Grant H. 
But in the spring of 1852 they built the frame house 
across the creek and lived there until their deaths. Mrs. 
Smith was an excellent woman and by her thrift and in- 

137 



Rush ford Families 

dustry greatly aided her husband in his success. She died 
]\lay 22, 1907, and was buried beside her husband in the 
Rushford Cemetery. They added more land as they could, 
until the home farm contained three hundred and sixty- 
eight acres, and owned several other farms, in all, over a 
thousand acres. It was Kimber's ambition to leave a farm 
and home for each of his children. They had six children 
grow up and marry, one daughter, Elizabeth, having died 
at five years of age in 1857. The others were Henry A., 
1850-1903; Lawrence King, 1856-1903; EHza D. (wife of 

D. E. Lewis), 1859-1893; Arlouine (wife of F. D. Kings- 
bury), t86o ; Grant H., 1865 ; Irene S. (wife of 

E. Kendall), 1872 . 

Kimber was a strong temperance man. He voted the 
Republican ticket until the Prohibition party was organ- 
ized, after which he always voted that ticket. He did not 
care for office but was assessor for several years, elected 
on the Republican ticket. He was one of Rushford's most 
successful and influential farmers, and was held in high 
esteem. He was a deep thinker, was well informed on all 
matters of public interest and fearlessly advocated what he 
believed to be right. He died December 14, 1900, and was 
buried at Rushford. 



THE KINGSBURYS 
H. J. W. G. 

DANIEL KINGSBURY, a clothier by trade, came to 
Rushford with his family in 1828 and settled on 
Rush Creek near the farm of Luther Woodward, Sr. The 
old cellar of his house may be seen across the road from 
Hugh Barber's home. Mrs. Kingsbury's maiden name 

138 



The Kingsburys 

was Dorothy Otis ; she was a relative of the late H. H. 
Otis of Buffalo. About 1840 Mr. Kingsbury went to Ar- 
kansas to see his son Daniel ; while there he sickened and 
died. 

The children of Daniel and Dorothy Kingsbury were : 
Almeda (Mrs. Bishop) and Permelia (Mrs. Spencer), who 
never lived in Rushford ; Dorothy (i Mrs. Pierce, 2 Mrs. 
Bettes) ; Lucy; Sophronia; William O. ; Daniel P.; J. Nel- 
son, and Laura, who died young. 

Lucy Kingsbury was born in Rome, March i, 1809. In 
1832 she married in Rushford Ebenezer P. Lyon, son of 
A. J. Lyon ; they went to housekeeping in the Lyon home- 
stead where were born their four children, Martin, Mary 
A. (Mrs. R. D. Charles), Laura and Abram J. Mrs. Lucy 
Lyon died February i, 1900, in the house where she had 
passed her married life. 

William O. Kingsbury was born in Rome, New York, 
May I, 18 1 5. September 19, 1837, he and Maryette Barr, 
who was living at Orville Boardman's, were married by 
Elder Absalom Miner, pastor of the Baptist Church in 
Rushford. Their oldest son, James, was born in Rushford 
village in the house now owned by Mrs. Susan Beaumont. 
At this time William O. Kingsbury was employed by Mr. 
.Boardman in his ashery which stood near by. Otis, the 
second son, was born in a log house on the hill, which forms 
a part of the farm of John Haynes. The public highway 
then ran past the house. About 1843 ^^^- Kingsbury moved 
to Farmersville where Percival, Maryette (Mrs. Frasier 
of Arcade) and Lowella (Mrs. Knowles Baldwin) were 
born. In 1871 Mr. Kingsbury moved to Podonque, having 
bought the place where Thomas Williams now lives. Late 
in life he built the house on Lower Street now owned by 
his daughter. Mrs. Baldwin, lumber for which came on one 

r.39 



Rush ford Families 

of the first trains of the Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Rail- 
road. In this house Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury celebrated 
their golden wedding and passed their closing days. 

Mr. Kingsbury was an ardent Republican ; when the 
Civil War broke out he gave his three sons to his country 
in her need. Like the other Kingsburys he was of a me- 
chanical turn of mind ; when two of Rushford's daughters 
married, he presented each one with a clothes fork of his 
own making. 

Beginning in 1836, the year of her conversion, when 
twenty-one years of age, Mrs. Kingsbury read the Bible 
through each year until her death, October i, 1888. 

J. Nelson Kingsbury was born in Brighton, Canada 
West, October 23, 1823. March i, 1846, he married Eme- 
line Lyon, daughter of A. J. Lyon. Their home was on 
Upper Street in Rushford village. Mr. Kingsbury was a 
carpenter and contractor. About i860 he bought the 
land where Cephas Young's tavern had stood ; two years 
later he moved his dwelling house to this place. The prop- 
erty is now owned by his daughter, Imogene, Mrs. James 
G. Benjamin. 

Mrs. Lucy Lyon, J. Nelson and William O. Kings- 
bury were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Not far apart, on Lower Street in Rushford village, 
live three grandsons of Daniel Kingsbury : Otis Kingsbury, 
whose war record covers four years ; Abram J. Lyon, the 
veteran drummer ; and Martin Lyon, a strong pillar in the 
Methodist Church. 



Benjamin Kingsbury was a brother of Daniel Kings- 
bury, who settled on Rush Creek. Benjamin Kingsbury 
and Joanah Jennings were married in Cherry Valley. New 



140 



The Kingsburys 

York, where were born seven children: WiUiam W. (in 
1817), AdeHa, Daniel, Hannah, Benjamin, Alvin and Ed- 
ward. They all came to Rush ford about 1830 and settled 
west of the village on a farm which in later years was part 
of the Israel Thompson farm. Here Julia (Mrs. Sayres) 
and Sophia (Mrs. Dodson) were born. 

Benjamin Kingsbury was a carpenter and cabinet 
maker. Having been engaged by Deacon Solomon Raw- 
son, the first settler of Lyndon, to build a dwelling house 
for him at Rawson, Mr. Kingsbury walked from Rushford 
village to Rawson, carrying his tools on his back. 

A few years after Benjamin Kingsbury came to Rush- 
ford, he bought of the Holland Land Company sixty acres 
about half a mile northeast of Hardy's Corners. He lived 
on this farm until his death in 1850. The land was after- 
wards owned by his son Edward, later by William W. and 
now by George H. Kingsbury of Topeka, Kansas. 

Daniel Kingsbury, father of Benjamin, was a soldier 
in the War of the Revolution; Benjamin was in the War of 
1812, and his three sons, Benjamin, Alvin and Edward, 
served in the Civil War. 

William W. Kingsbury was a carpenter and joiner 
and contractor. He went to Independence to built a house 
for John C. Basset. There he met Miss Betsey Basset who, 
October 10. 1848, became his wife. Their son. Frank D. 
(now deceased), was born while they were living at Black 
Creek. In 1852 they moved to Rushford where George H. 
and William C. were born, and where, in 1891. William W. 
died. Mrs. Betsey Kingsbury lives on the old homestead 
near Hardy's Corners. 

William W. Kingsbury once told a man he would give 
him an acre of land for a building lot when he got mar- 
ried. Some time after, the man said, "Mr. Kingsbury. I'm 



141 



Rush ford Families 

married now, where is the building lot you were going 
to give me?" "Well, sir," said Mr. Kingsbury, "I will 
give you a strip of land the length of my sixty-acre lot and 
wide enough to make an acre." 



THE LEAVENS 
H. J. W. G. 

JOSEPH LEAVENS emigrated from Scotland to Kill- 
ingly, Connecticut. His son Charles in 1780, moved to 
Windsor, ^^ermont. Llere Calvin Leavens, son of Charles 
and Lydia (Grover) Leavens, was born August 18, 1784. 
In the same place, December 8, 1808, Calvin Leavens mar- 
ried Lucy, daughter of Daniel and Ruhama (Ely) Woods. 
They moved to Rushford in October, 1828, and settled in 
Podonque on the road north from East Rushford. Their 
children, Calvin Galusha, Grover. Laura, Lyford, Lucy 
Loraine, Daniel Woods and Louise, were all born in Wind- 
sor, Vermont, except Calvin Galusha, who was born in 
Reading, Vermont, in 1809, and Louise, who was born in 
Rushford in 1830. Beside being a farmer, Calvin Leavens 
was a skillful blacksmith. The hoes which he made had 
thin, well-tempered blades ; the eye of the blade held the 
handle. Calvin Leavens died May 5, 1862, and was buried 
in the Podonque Cemetery, 

Calvin Galusha preceded his father to Rushford. He 
"left Windsor for the Holland Purchase February 7, 1828, 
coming with two uncles, two aunts and a cousin in a large, 
heavy lumber wagon covered with cotton cloth. The snow 
was a foot and a half deep until they crossed the Green 
Mountains, then it was mud, mud all the way to the Pur- 
chase, where they arrived after seventeen days of hard trav- 

142 



■\ 



i 



Grover M. Pratt 



Rush ford Families 

eling."' He married in Rushford, in 1834, his cousin, Mary 
Palmer Richards. After years of labor upon an unproduc- 
tive farm, he bought one just north of the Podonque school- 
house, now owned by Edwin Weaver, where there was a 
sawmill which he owned and ran in company with O. D. 
Benjamin. In 1867 he moved to Hamilton, Michigan, 
where his wife died in 1871. In 1876 he returned to Rush- 
ford where he married Mrs. Lucia (Woods) Benjamin, a 
cousin of his first wife. Their home was just south of the 
entrance to the Podonque Cemetery. "What is the best 
time of the year to trim apple trees?" a person once asked 
Galusha Leavens. He replied, "I have trimmed apple trees 
all times of the year, and I have made up my mind that 
the best time is when your saw is sharp." 

Mr. Leavens died September 6, 1888. During his 
closing hours, in reply to a niece, he said, "O, I am so happy ! 
If this is the beginning, what will it be by and by?" 

Grover Leavens married Mehitable Roberts of War- 
saw. In the forties he was attorney and counselor at law 
and justice of the peace in Rushford. In 1847 h^ was mem- 
ber of Assembly from Allegany County. He and his wife 
both died in Horseheads, New York, in 1865, without 
children. 

Laura Leavens married Edward B. Pratt, a Metho- 
dist minister, in 1842. Their children were Grover M., 
born in Rushford, and Mary L., born in Bolivar. Both 
are now living in Rochester, New York. Grover M. is at 
the head of the department of domestics in the wholesale 
department of Sibley, Lindsay, Curr & Co. Mary L. is 
an unusually efficient grade teacher. Laura L. Pratt died 
at the home of her son on West Main Street in Rushford 
April 24, 1 89 1. 

Lyford Leavens came to Rusliford in 1830. In 1837 
144 



The Leavens 




Inez L. Leavens 

he married Myra, daughter of Tarbel and Lucy Gordon. 
After Hving on the farm in Podonque many years they 
moved to Rush ford village. Their home was on the corner 
of Church and Lewellen Streets where Mr. Leavens died 
December 20, 1875. Lyford Leavens was a farmer and 
a maker of butter firkins, sap buckets and straight barrels. 
A well-known man who objected to being disputed, was 
talking at some length in one of the stores in Rushford. 
After he was through, Lyford Leavens said that when he 
was a young man and lived in Vermont he drove a four- 
horse team with a lumber wagon to Boston. A terrible 



145 



Rush ford Families 

storm came up, so he asked a man if he could drive into his 
-barn. The man said that his barn was full but he could drive 
around back of the barn, so he did. Finding large cabbages 
growing there, he drove under a leaf and was protected 
from the storm. "That's a pretty big story," said the first 
speaker. Mr. Leavens replied, "I thought 'twas lies you 
were telling." 

A daughter, Eliza, wrote the following lines of her 
childhood days in Podonque : 

'Twas just beyond the old schoolhouse, 

How well I remember the spot, 

The dear old wood so enchanting 

Is it strange that I never forgot 

How at noontime we strolled through the woodland 

In search of the wildwood flowers. 

Or fashioned some wonderful playhouse 

Just under those green, leafy bowers? 

On the knolls grew the moss and the bears' wheat. 
Which we made into bracelets and chains. 
Though the early spring flowers have faded. 
Their soft, lovely perfume remains. 
And often we've taken our luncheon 
To that cool and pleasant retreat. 
And listened while one of our number 
Would some wonderful story repeat. 

And then methinks of "Old Deacon," 

So old and lonely and queer, 

No one in the wide world to cheer him. 

No friends or kindred near. 

In winter he tended the fire 

146 



The Leavens 

And fastened the schoolhouse door, 
And was ever glad of the fragments 
Which we left on the schoolroom floor. 

So we emptied our pails and our baskets 
And gave the "Old Deacon" a share; 
How his old, wrinkled face would brighten 
When he saw we had something to spare. 
'Twas only a step to the mill pond, 
While close beside stood the mill 
With the bridge and the cold spring of water 
Just down at the foot of the hill. 

How my thoughts still go back to the wayside. 

Where we passed on our way home from school, 

And surrounding the trough that was moss-grown, 

We drank of its water so cool. 

But the once noisy mill wheel is silent. 

The old sawmill has gone to decay, 

Yet the miller and mill by the wayside 

Are fresh in my memory today. 

W. H. Leavens, the only living child of Lyford Leav- 
ens, resides on Lower Street in Rushford village. 

Lucy Loraine Leavens married in Rushford, in 1839, 
Giles Hollister Chapin. She died in Toledo, Ohio. Their 
older son, Henry Harrison (deceased), was editor of the 
Rushford Weekly News Letter when only nineteen years 
of age. The other son, Charles Theodore, is living in Cadil- 
lac, Michigan. 

Daniel Woods Leavens taught school in Rushford in 
1845. The schoolhouse was on the south side of West Main 
Street. Among his pupils were Julia Thompson, Juliet 

147 



Rushford Families 

Crocker, Amelia Tarbell and Otis White. January 3, 1846, 
he and Mary Louisa Burr were married in Rushford. 

In the Republican Era of September i, 1847, one may 
read the following advertisement : 

"D. W. Leavens. 
Painter — Near the foot of Main Street opposite Union 
Block, Rushford, N. Y." 

It is said that he ofifered to paint free of cost a sign 
for John Doland if he could paint what he liked. He and 
Edward Pratt put their heads together with this result: 
"I work for those who pay the best, 
And when I've time I serve the rest. 
I've trusted many to my sorrow, 
Pay today, I'll trust tomorrow." 

For years this sign hung in front of Mr. Doland's 
shop, attracting the attention of every passerby. 

In 1882 Daniel Leavens was a druggist in Bay City, 
Michigan. He afterward lived in Pasadena, California. 
Of this place he once wrote, "Pasadena is the church- 
goingest place I ever lived in. Rushford is by no means 
to be sneezed at, and Decatur, Michigan, does fairly well, 
but Pasadena can give them points and discount them. 
From half-past ten to eleven Easter Sunday, the streets 
were thronged with church-goers, and long processions of 
teams came in from the country. Flow they did come in! 
Preferring to be with God we took the opposite direction." 

The children of Daniel Leavens were Charles Andrew 
and Walter Calvin, born in Rushford, Edward P. (de- 
ceased), born in Oramel. and George F.. born in Horse- 
heads, New York. 

Louise Leavens married Cenclaire Dayton in Horse- 
heads, March 24, 1864. She died in Elmira, New York. 

Mrs. Clarissa Woods Calkins in her paper Old Home 

148 



Billings and Hannah Walker 

Week said that the children of Calvin and Lucy Leavens 
were all of a quiet, even temperament, lovely in their lives 
as their father and mother were before them. 



B 



BILLINGS AND HANNAH WALKER 

Julia Tarbell Merrill 

ILLINGS WALKER, son of Gideon and Hannah (Bil- 
lings) Walker, was born August 31, 1767, at Brook- 
field, Massachusetts. In 1796 he married Hannah Proctor, 
daughter of Leonard and Mary (Keep) Proctor. Hannah 
Proctor was born at Westford, Massachusetts, July 3, 1778. 
She afterwards moved with her parents to Proctorsville, 
Vermont. In 1828 Billings Walker and wife moved to 
Rushford ; but this was not their first trip to this place, 
since in 182 1 Mr. Walker drove through from Vermont 
with his daughter Hannah and her two little boys, Leonard 
and Rolin, her husband, James Tarbell, having come the 
year before, and a few years later Mrs. Walker came 
from Vermont on horseback to visit this daughter. Billings 
and Hannah Walker had ten children, nine of whom came 
to Rushford to live. Their names were Hannah Billings 
(Mrs. James Tarbell), Thomas B., John Witherspoon, 
Leonard Proctor, Mary Keep (Mrs. John Adams), Gideon 
Dana, Experience Paulina (Mrs. Wilson Gordon), Artemus 
Barnard, Jabez Proctor and Solomon Cutler. 

After residing in Rushford for a time Billings Walker 
moved to Farmersville, where he died in 1852. While liv- 
ing in Vermont he was justice of the peace for many years. 
When he married a couple, he always gave the wedding fee 
to the bride. This made him very popular in that capacity. 
Among those whom he united in marriage were Samuel 

149 



Rush ford Families 

White and Percy Snow, father and mother of Mrs. Ellen 
White Hubbell. He was a prominent member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, being a Royal Arch Mason, a distinction 
enjoyed by comparatively few in this country at that early 
date. After the death of her husband, Hannah Walker 
moved back to Rushford where she died in 1863. 

Grandmother Walker, as she was always called, was 
a kind-hearted, generous woman, beloved by all who knew 
her. The esteem and love in which she was held was 
shown by the fact that for years, upon her birthday, she 
was serenaded by the Rushford Cornet Band. She antici- 
pated their coming and always invited them in to have re- 
freshments which included birthday cake. It is said that 
no one could go into her house and get away without hav- 
ing something to eat. Many, now, remember Grandmother 
Walker's good ginger cookies. She was a capable woman, 
full of fun and extremely witty. She was an aunt of the 
late Senator Redfield Proctor of Vermont, whose son, 
Fletcher Proctor, is the present governor of that State. 
At a Masonic banquet held in Rushford, when Grand- 
mother Walker was an old lady, she was an honored guest. 
Mr. John Hubbell procured a horse and carriage and took 
her to the hall for the supper and social time, which she 
enjoyed so much that she often referred to it afterwards. 

In regard to the Walkers, Mrs. Ellen White Hubbell 
of Arnett, Oklahoma, says, "The family were the cream of 
the country, able to meet any demand upon them in a busi- 
ness or social way. For intelligence and uprightness the 
Walkers were beyond the ordinary and did well their part 
in the development of the country." 

Billings and Hannah Walker have nine grandchildren 
now living (1908). One of them, Dr. Hiram D. Walker 
of Buffalo, after several years of research and experi- 

150 



Newbury Eddy 

ment has recently astonished the medical profession by his 
theory as to the origin of the cancer germ. The descend- 
ants of Billings and Hannah Walker are numerous. There 
are twelve of the sixth generation, ten of whom are great- 
grandchildren of Hannah Tarbell Lines, one of whom, 
Ethel Hyde of South Lima, is a great-granddaughter of 
Andrew J. Walker, and one of whom, Merrill Luther 
Thomas of Silver Springs, is a great-grandson of Dana 
O. Tarbell. The only descendants of Billings and Hannah 
Walker now living in Rushford are Juha (Tarbell) Mer- 
rill, wife of W. W. Merrill, and her daughters. 



NEWBURY EDDY 
Eddy C. Gilbert 

NEWBURY EDDY was born in Vermont, in 1799. He 
was a descendant of Wm. Eddy, who was born, prob- 
ably in Bristol, England, about 1550. Newbury Eddy mar- 
ried Amelia Tarbell, sister of Abel Tarbell. They were 
familiarly called "Uncle Newb" and "Aunt Milly." They 
moved from Mount Holly, Vermont, to Rushford in 1829. 
He drove through with a four-horse team, bringing his 
wife and daughter, Sophronia, and some household goods. 
He settled two miles west of the Center, as the village was 
then called, on the Farmersville road, buying the land of 
the Holland Land Company in two separate parcels. The 
farm yet remains in the family. A virgin forest, principally 
hemlock, maple and beech covered the farm. He com- 
menced to cut logs for a log house but after getting three 
ready, he gave up the job and decided to build a frame 
house, part of which is still standing. Two more daughters 
were born, Sophia and Lucy. Sophronia and Lucy died 



Rush ford Families 

in 1854. vSophia married Hiram R. Gilbert and to them 
were born four children, Eddy C, Frona L., Nettie M. and 
Daniel W. 

Newbury Eddy was a typical early settler, honest and 
industrious. His jolly good nature won him many friends. 
He was rather tall and of massive build. He cleared his 
•own farm, in winter cutting and drawing timber, handling 
chains in zero weather barehanded. He had one of the 
copies of the first issue of the New York Tribune and was 
ever after a subscriber. Like his neighbors he kept drovers 
with their droves of cattle and sheep. He was original in 
his sayings. He said that his team could draw more down 
hill than up because they could get a better foothold, and 
that he had lost a good deal of money by not having cattle 
to sell when the drovers came along. If Abel Tarbell 
came in while he was at at meal he would ask him to eat 
and when Mr. Tarbell would say "No," he would say, "It 
is manners for me to ask but for you to refuse." A negro 
came to his house in war-time and asked for something to 
eat. He was given a supper of warm biscuit and honey. 
Overcome by the kindness he shed tears. A bed was of- 
fered him for the night but he refused and slept in the 
barn. The next day Mrs. Eddy sent Mr. Eddy to the barn 
for some eggs. He came back without any, saying, the 
only nest he found was a nigger's nest. Once when he was 
driving back from town with his wife who had just bought 
her a new bonnet, she asked why he was driving so fast ; 
he replied that he wanted to get home before the bonnet was 
out of fashion. 

Newbury Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, was 
named after him by his brother. Wilson Eddy. His wife 
died in December, 1866, and he followed her in January. 



N AH I'M AAIES 
Augusta Ames Woods 

NAllL'Al AAIES married Edith, daughter of Edward 
and Rachel Hildreth Tarbell. They came to Rush- 
ford in a covered wagon from Mount Holly, \'ermont, in 
the fall of 1830, bringing with them two children, Fletcher 
and Augusta. Mr. Ames went on foot to Ellicottville and 
obtained an article for one hundred acres of land covered 
with timber, in what is' now called the Cream Ridge district. 
His family remained at Newbury Eddy's during the win- 
ter, while he cleared enough land to build a log house into 
which they moved in the spring of 1831. Clarissa and 
Horace were born in the frame house which was built 
seven years after the log one. Both Nahum Ames and his 
wdfe were members of the Baptist Church. He died at the 
age of eighty-three years on the land which he cleared. 
Newton Ames of Warsaw is a grandchild 



A. W. E. DAMON 
C. M. Damon 

AMONG the substantial families of Rushford's citizens 
of fifty years ago, were four Damon brothers, War- 
ren, Alonzo. Martin and DeSalvo, who, for the most part, 
spent their lives in Rushford. Warren, the eldest of five 
sons and three daughters, is the subject of this sketch. He 
was born in Reading, Windsor County, Vermont, May 15, 
1 81 2. His father, Dimick, was a son or grandson of another 
of the same name. About 1824 he removed with his family 
to the Black River country, somewhat north and east of 
the central part of New York, and some years later set- 

153 



Rushford Families 

tied in Rushford, probably near where Alonzo spent his 
life, on the Creek or Bufifalo road. Later still he removed 
with his daughters and younger sons to the southeast cor- 
ner, of Indiana. On a return trip, for a visit, he was taken 
sick and died suddenly in East Sewickley, Pennsylvania! He 
was said to be an industrious and peaceable man, some- 
what noted for athletic feats, but irreligious and unobserv- 
ant of the Sabbath Day, until converted rather late in life. 

Brought up under the influences implied above, the 
subject of our sketch was converted in 1831, at the age of 
nineteen, and became at once a zealous Methodist whose 
most prominent characteristic in hfe was his devotion to 
Christ and the church and the strictness with which his 
family of three sons and two daughters were trained in 
religious habits and like devotion. Notwithstanding, how- 
ever, his ardent devotion to Methodism, he courted and 
married Emily, daughter of Nathan C. Kimball an equally 
ardent Baptist and a pillar in that church. About eight 
years thereafter, she joined herself with him in church fel- 
lowship, in part that their children might have the benefit 
of a united family in religious training. 

Of the years of his married life, four or five were 
spent in his father's neighborhood, six just east of Hardy's 
Corners, and then a half mile south of Hardy's Cor- 
ners on a new farm which he opened up, clearing and drain- 
ing and, like others in a comparatively new country, turn- 
ing his hand to various employments, as making his own 
sleds and other tools, cobbling shoes, making his own sap 
buckets and such like. It was while building his barn 
here that he cut his foot so badly that it resulted in a mort- 
gage on the farm which stuck to it thirty years beyond the 
ten he spent there. He had broken his leg when a young 
man working for Judge McCall. "the old Judge." His last 

154 



A. W. E. Damon 

thirteen years were spent on the dairy farm which he bought 
of Robert Morrow, one and a half miles from Rush ford on 
the Cuba road, where he died in November, 1870. Of the 
brothers named above, three were farmers and Martin,* 
a first-class carpenter. All were industrious and made 
good homes for their families, but among them Alonzo was 
the most rugged and the most prosperous. 

A. W. E. Damon was a man of intelligence, a great 
reader, alive to national and world-wide events. To the 
extent of his ability he promoted education in his neigh- 
borhood, often charged with the responsibility of choosing 
teachers, seeing that his children were well supplied with 
necessary books, and later giving them the benefit of the 
Academy for advanced training. In politics he was a Demo- 
crat until the organization of the Republican party, when 
he entered heartily into the campaign for Fremont and 
freedom. When the news of its defeat and the election of 
Buchanan came, his brother-in-law, Reuben Lyman, came 
in one morning and said, "Well, Warren, we've lost our 
vote." "I should have voted the same way if I had known 
I should lose it," was his reply. As a boy and youth he 
had imbibed some of the politico-religious opinions growing 
out of the abduction and murder of Wm. IMorgan, which 
entered into the politics of the State and nation for some 
years, and while little was said in public, owing to the 
transcendent influence and importance of the question of 
slavery, he remained strongly opposed to the influence of 
Free Masonry in church and State. He was an admirer 
of W. H. Seward, the cultured and able statesman and 
Secretary of State, and like most New Yorkers would 
gladly have hailed him as presidential candidate when Lin- 
coln was nominated. Once at table the conversation turned 

*He married Caroline Chase. Lannis Damon is their son. 
155 



Rushford Families 

to politics and he remarked that he was a Seward man. 
"I'm not," said his wife ; "I'm a Sumner man," and the 
little daughter chimed in, "I'm on Ma's side," and that of 
course settled the controversy. Sumner was more of an 
AboHtionist. 

Uniformly industrious and public spirited, without try- 
ing to do excessive things, and contending steadily and 
cheerfully with many heavy adversities of accident and 
sickness in the family, which seriously crippled his re- 
sources, he pursued the even tenor of his way till life's 
end. PTe was active and somewhat prominent officially in 
the church, a friend of the pastors, welcoming them to his 
home but not limiting its hospitality to his own denomi- 
nation. The writer well recalls the entertainment extended 
at one time to three Baptist ministers on a public occasion. 
Minor offices of responsibility in the business of the com- 
munity were also filled by him at times. He evidently en- 
joyed the confidence of society, as irreligious men and 
infidels who would not have a minister would engage him, 
on occasions of death in the family, to come and offer 
prayer in their homes. Thus lived a humble and useful citi- 
zen, respected by his fellow men. He died at the age of 
fifty-eight. 

Children of A. W. E. Damon: 

1. Rosina (Mrs. I. W. Evans), deceased. 

2. Albert, died of wounds received in Civil War. 

3. DeSalvo, resides in Rushford. 

4. Charles M., a Free Methodist minister, resides in 
Mitchell, South Dakota. 

5. Emily (Mrs. James Cook), resides in Plymouth, 
Iowa. 



156 



HARMON HYDE 
Mary Ann Hyde 

HARMON HYDE, eldest son of Erie and Pamelia 
Hyde, was born in Burlington, Vermont, July 28, 
1807. His people came to Rush ford in the fall of 183 1, 
and bought a farm, two miles north of the village, of Mr. 
Pomeroy Johnson. It is now owned by Mr. George Cole. 

Harmon Hyde learned the jewelers' trade in Buffalo 
of a Mr. Stevenson. According to the contract, he was to 
board himself and pay one dollar a week for learning the 
trade. At the end of the first month Mr. Stevenson told 
him that he was a genius and of such service to him that 
he was wilhng to give him the dollar a week instead of 
taking it. After finishing his trade, he returned to Rush- 
ford and established himself in business, in 1834. in a build- 
ing that stood north of the house now owned by Mr. Re- 
main Benjamin. He boarded at Mr. James Thirds'. June 25, 
1837, he married Miss Tabitha Oilman, a sister of Mrs. 
Thirds'. On account of illness in the Thirds family, the 
marriage occurred at the residence of Mr. Oramel Griffin, 
whose residence and place of business were on the now vacant 
corner of Main and Upper Streets. In 1840 Mr. Hyde built 
his home and place of business on Main Street. This was 
the second or third building on Main Street. The prop- 
erty is now the Hyde estate. 

Mr. Hyde was widely known and honored as a strictly 
honest man. Mrs. Hyde was an active woman, and a mat- 
ter of necessity to the sick in town. They had nine chil- 
dren in their family: Lestina (Mrs. Gifford), who with 
her daughter lives in Washington, D. C. ; Henry, who died 
September 11, 1871 ; Mary Ann, who lives in Washington, 
D. C. (1908); Lauretta, who died September 9, 1866; 
Charles, who died February 6, 1849; Cornelia (Mrs. Web- 

157 



Rush ford Families 

ster Hardy), who lives in Rushford; Cordelia (i Mrs. Rob- 
bins, 2 Mrs. Hardaway), who died May lo, 1900; Harmon, 
who lives in Silver Springs; Fred, who lives in Rushford. 
Cornelia and Cordelia were twins. Mr. Hyde died Sep- 
tember 16, 1867, and Mrs. Hyde September 5, 1884. 



HARRIS GILBERT 
Eddy C. Gilbert 

HARRIS GILBERT, son of William and Hope Gilbert, 
came to Rushford in 183 1 with his wife and two 
sons, John and Daniel. He first lived about a mile west 
of the village where Amanda, Mrs. George Cady, was born. 
In 1834 he was keeping the tavern, now occupied by Miles 
Tarbell, at the corner of West Main and Buffalo Streets, 
where a third son, Hiram Butler, was born. The 
same year he was elected one of the highway commis- 
sioners, the only town office he ever held. After leaving 
the tavern he learned the trade of blacksmith with John 
Osborne, and afterwards they were partners for a few years 
in both Centerville and Rushford. Later he moved to Fair- 
view and soon after to a farm joining Micah Hall's on the 
County Line road. This farm is in the town of Farmers- 
ville. • By this time he had moved so often that his wife re- 
monstrated, saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss." ?Ie 
replied that he did not want to be all mossed over. With 
the exception of one year, 1858, he lived on his farm until 
1864, when he moved to Rushford village where he died 
April 6, 1870. 

He was associated with Peter Pettit in a meat market 
and in ])uying and seUing cattle. Later he and Stephen 

158 




Eddy C. Gilbert 



Rush ford Families 




i<LM(iLiice of George Gant 

Hardy bought and sold cattle. He was a Democrat in poli- 
tics. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
but when the Free Methodist Church was organized he 
joined that denomination. Without consulting his wife he 
handed in her name also as a member. Louisa was born 
in 1836. Sophia in 1841, and Olive, Mrs. Hosea Persons, 
was born on the farm in Farmersville in 1844. Louisa mar- 
ried L. C. Hubbard. Sophia married H. H. Frink and 
moved to Carthage, New York. Daniel was a soldier in the 
Civil War. He died in hospital in Annapolis, Maryland, 
and was buried in an unknown grave. John for his first 
wife married Margaret Miller, sister of Nathan B. Miller. 
His second wife was Lovisa Chapin. He was killed by acci- 
dent April 2^, 1899. Hiram when a boy clerked for Wash- 
ington White and also for Wilson Gordon. He used to tell 
an anecdote that took place in White's store. A man from 
Allen was speaking of his town, when Emerson Kendall, 
who clianced to be present, said "Wouldn't Allen be a good 

160 



Aaron Rice 

place to sell calamities?" The man replied, "Don't come 
over there with any calamities, we've got enough of them 
already." Mrs. Olive Persons is the only one of Harris 
Gilbert's children now living. 



AARON RICE 

AAROX RICE was born in Windsor, Vermont, in 1796. 
Rebecca Tolles was born in 1800. They were united 
in marriage in Weathersfield, Vermont, in 1830. After two 
years they came to Rush ford and settled in Podonque on the 
farm now owned by Melvin Crowell. Here Mr. Rice built 
a small house, at first putting up curtains for doors. At 
night they could hear the wolves howl. 

Eight children were born to them. Five times the 
Angel of Death came to their home, taking the three oldest 
boys in babyhood, and two daughters, Martha and Phila, 
in the bloom of womanhood. Olive, Clark and Margaret 
passed middle life. Olive married Edwin M. Worden of 
Arcadia, Wayne County. Clark married Jane Osborn of 
Centerville. Margaret married Hiram Holdridge of Pen- 
field, Monroe County. Mrs. W. H. Thomas and Irving 
Worden are grandchildren who reside in town. 

Aaron and Rebecca Rice were both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. They died on the farm which 
he had cleared and which had been their home so many 
years. 

Note — Information furnished by Mrs. Ellen Worden Armison. 



161 



I 



Rush ford Families 

ISRAEL THOMPSON 

Julia A. Thompson 

SRAEL THOMPSON was born in Lansing, Tompkins 
County, in 1803. In 1828 he married Calista Holton 
Silsby in Brighton, New York. In the year 1832 he started 
from Groton, Tompkins County, for Jamestown, Chautau- 
qua County, this place being noted for its fine water power. 
His object was to put up a trip hammer shop for the manu- 
facture of edge tools. In those days traveling was depend- 
ent upon the faithful horse and as it was slow, hard work 
climbing the long road over the rugged hills, his horse be- 
came lame, so he stopped in New Hudson at the house of a 
friend who formerly lived in Groton. This friend, Mr. 
Asaph Allen, who later came to Rushford to live, 
said to him, "Why go to Jamestown? There is 
a thriving village below here called Rushford, look about 
there and buy a place." A blacksmith wanted to sell, so the 
long distance yet to Jamestown, the lame horse, the friend 
and the thriving village shaped his destiny in Rushford. 
Showing how much his heart was set upon this Eldorado with 
its excellent water power, he would often remark when 
hearing of Jamestown or meeting friends from there, "That 
is the place where I ought to have located." After buying, 
he returned to Groton and settling up his business there, 
he brought his wife and two little girls, Aurora and Mary, 
to their new home in Rushford. 

He took much interest in this new home, helping along 
its business interests and promoting its growth. With 
Charles Gilman he put up a fine frame store on the corner 
where Taylor's brick store now stands. After the flood of 
1864 this store, owned then by W. Griffin, was moved where 
the brick block now stands, and like many good things in 

162 



Israel Thompson 

Rushford was consumed by fire. He also put up several 
dwellings. He was interested in all benevolences, educa- 
tion, temperance and religion. He helped to build the 
churches of the different denominations, though a Metho- 
dist by birth, a grandson of the Rev. Benjamin Abbott, an 
itinerant minister under Bishop Asbury, whose circuit 
ranged over parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
Delaware and Maryland. He was ever ready to promote 
the cause of Christ in the community, was a steward in the 
Methodist Church until his death and for a number of years 
furnished the elements for the communion service, aided by 
his Presbyterian wife who baked the bread and cut the 
loaves into the form required for the service and kept the 
silver service clean and bright. He helped to build the 
Rushford Academy and was one of its active trustees for 
several years. He owned a scholarship in Lima Seminary 
and one in Meadville College, Pennsylvania, which he lent 
to persons wishing to attend these institutions. His tem- 
perance principles were firmly carried out for the good of 
the communit}'. A temperance pledge signed by him at the 
age of eight-five years, at a temperance lecture, is held by 
his family. Some time in the thirties he was orderly ser- 
geant in a company of State militia. The company was 
called to Buffalo but before arriving there, they learned 
their services were not needed, so, to the joy of their fami- 
lies, they returned home. 

Five children were born to Israel Thompson in Rush- 
ford, of whom one. Benjamin F., died in infancy. The oth- 
ers were Emma M., Edwin Franklin, Julia A., and Alfred 
W. Israel Thompson passed from earth at the age of 
eighty-nine years, his intellect unimpaired, his faith strong 
in his Heavenly Father. 



163 



Rushford Families 

A TRIBUTE 

?I. J. W. G. 

LET us go back sixty years to a blacksmith shop on the 
south side of Main Street not far from the corner. 
The clock has not yet struck five, but the charcoal fires are 
burning brightly on the forges and the flying sparks tell 
the drowsy neighbors it is time to rise. The builder of the 
fires goes to his breakfast; after breakfast there is family 
prayers, he is never too busy for that, though there are 
horses to be shod and axes and wagons to be made. After 
dinner before returning to his work, he lies down to rest. 
Thursday evening finds him in the house of prayer; and 
when he comes down to a beautiful old age, he commits to 
memory hymns, choice poems and portions of the Scripture, 
ripening for eternity. Such was Israel Thompson. 



D 



THE HILLARYS 

Maud Howard Brady 

AVID HILLARY was born in Yorkshire, England, in 
1790. He and his wife, Hannah Agett, came to 
America in 1830, after a stormy passage of eight weeks and 
two days, in a ship called the "Two Brothers." They set- 
tled at Perry, Wyoming County, where they lived two years. 
Then they moved to Rushford onto the farm, on the Fair- 
view road, now owned by a grandson, David Hillary, where 
they spent the remainder of their lives. David Hillary was 
an orphan. He was apprenticed seven years at wagon-mak- 
ing, and helped saw the lumber in a saw pit in which the 
saw worked perpendicularly, one man standing in the pit 
and the other above. He was a great reader and found 

164 



The Hillarys 

more pleasure in arguing about politics than in doing his 
work. He was loyal to his new country. He died in 1855. 

His wife, Hannah, was born in 1795, and died in 1880. 
She was an industrious woman. Every spare moment would 
find her knitting. Two children were born to them, James 
and Nancy. James was born in 181 8 and died in 1897. He 
married Emma Johnson. They had six children. Jennie 
married H^arry Wallace, who ran a sawmill at Hardy's Cor- 
ners. She now lives in Relfield. Virginia. Hannah took 
care of her aged parents at their home in Gordonville until 
their deaths. She married I^awrence Clark, and died at 
her home in Caneadea in 1902. Mary, who married Louis 
Keeton, lives at Perry. George married Mae Baker and 
lives in Centerville. David, who lives on the old homestead, 
married Plelen Abbott. 

Nancy Hillary was born in 1822 and died in 1892. She 
married Eleazer Howard. They lived in Farmersville a 
number of years, then they moved to Rushford onto the 
farm now owned by James Wilson. They afterwards bought 
of William Williams the farm now owned by Alva Powell. 
In 1880 they traded farms with D. S. Damon. On this 
farm, now the farms of Walter Howard and John Lyon, 
they resided until their deaths. Mrs. Howard, especially 
in her later years, read the Bible a great deal. Four chil- 
dren were born to them. Mary married Edwin Pasco and 
now lives in Pittsburg, Michigan. Emma married John 
Moore and lived at West Branch until she and her hus- 
band moved to C~)ramel where she died in 1909. Francis 
married Carrie Capin and for several years lived on a part 
of the Howard farm. He now resides on Main Street 
in Rushford village. Walter married Eliza Van Name. 
They live on the old homestead. 



165 



Rush ford Families 

THE REV. ELIJAH METCALF 

Flora Metcalf Thomas 

THE subject of this sketch was born in Chesterfield, 
Cheshire County, New Hampshire, December 25, 
1777. He was one of a family of ten children. When he 
was quite young his parents moved to Salisbury, Herkimer 
County, New York, where he lived many years. He was 
brought up on a farm and attended the district school, mak- 
ing good use of what advantages he had for obtaining an 
education. He was converted at the first service of the 
first Methodist minister who preached in Salisbury. As 
there was no church, the meeting was held in a barn. The 
text, from which the sermon that made such a deep impres- 
sion on his mind was preached, was taken from the parable 
of the Great Supper. Mr. Metcalf united with the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church and feeling that he had a call to 
preach was soon given an exhorter's license. He was or- 
dained deacon by Bishop Asbury, at Paris, New York, July 
23, 181 1.* The field of labor assigned him and Loring Grant 
and Marmaduke Pearce by the Conference in 181 1 was the 
Holland Purchase and Caledonia circuit which included 
all of Western New York west of the Genesee River, Erie 
County in Pennsylvania, and all of Ohio south of Cleve- 
land. He organized the first Methodist class in Rush ford 
with four members. He formed several other classes on 
his circuit, which extended three hundred miles, and visited 
every point once in three weeks, receiving a salary of from 
fifty to seventy-five dollars a year. When he began the 
work of the ministry, his only possessions consisted of a 
horse and saddle, a few books, and his saddle bags containing 

*Mrs. Flora Metcalf Thomas has the ordination certificate of 
her grandfather. Elijah Metcalf, given at this time by Francis 
Asbury.— H. J. W. G. 

166 




1^ 



w 




Rush ford Families 

some clothing. His life as a traveling preacher in the Meth- 
odist itinerancy was one of hardship and privation — finding 
his way through the country by means of blazed trees and 
often fording streams swollen by heavy rains, yet amidst 
all the toil and discomfort, he was happy and contented 
in his work for the Master. He was earnest and enthusi- 
astic in his presentation of the truth and his labors were 
crowned with success. 

In T^ennsylvania he met Hannah Blakeslee, a resident 
of Vermont, whom he married January 13, 1813. ReaHz- 
ing that he could not support a wife on the meager salary 
he was receiving, he was located and returned to Sahsbury. 
Here six children were born to them — four sons and two 
daughters. In September. 1832, he with his wife and fam- 
ily moved to Rushford, making the journey in a wagon with 
an ox team. They made so slow progress that the two 
oldest boys became tired and started on afoot, arriving in 
Rushford before the rest of the family. He bought the 
farm, situated on the Creek road going toward Center- 
ville, then owned by Daniel Ely. Here he and his wife spent 
their remaining years. The farm is still owned by one of his 
descendants. 

After his marriage, when he was not engaged in the 
regular work of the ministry, he frequently preached in 
schoolhouses, and acted as a supply. He often walked 
ten or twelve miles on Sunday morning, filled his appoint- 
ment and returned home the same day. Some idea of his 
simplicity may be formed by the following arrangements 
which he made for his funeral and burial. 

Rushford, Nov. 27, 1858. 

HI should be taken away suddenly or otherwise, get 
me a plain, cheap cofifin, and let my funeral expenses be 
cheap as may be consistent. Have my funeral attended at 

168 




Mrs. Cornelia English Metcalf 



Rushford Families 

home, for preacher Brother Farnsworth, or Reddy. If 
they cannot be obtained get some enthusiastic exhorter. 
Otherwise get Brother Marville. The text, "There remain- 
eth therefore a rest to the people of God." The first hymn, 
"My span of Hfe will soon be done;" second hymn, "On 
Jordan's stormy banks I stand." Let the singing be in the 
congregation. Let the monument be a white oak plank. 
This order given by my hand. 

Elijah Metcalf. 

His wife died January 26, 1866, being nearly eighty 
years of age. He died March i, 1861. 

Lyman B. Metcalf, the oldest of the family was born 
April 13, 1815. When he came to Rushford he was seven- 
teen years of age. He married Eliza Porter of Lyndon, 
September 7, 1836. To them were born four children, two 
of whom, Mrs, Juliette Stone and Fred L. Metcalf of this 
place, survive. He served his country as a private in Capt. 
Woodworth's company. He was an ardent comrade and en- 
joyed meeting with "the boys in blue." Uncle Lyman, as 
he was familiarly called by both old and young, was of a 
jovial, fun-loving disposition which made him quite a fav- 
orite with children and young people. He died September 
5, 1896. He was buried just sixty years from the day he 
was married. 

Roxana Metcalf was born May 4, 1816. She married 
Alonzo Damon in 1839 and began housekeeping on the farm 
on the Creek road now owned by Herbert Francis. Here 
she lived fifty-one years. She was the mother of three 
children, Thomas, Rhoda and Riley, none of whom are liv- 
ing. She died June 2, 1890, eight days after her sister, 
Rachel. 

Levi Metcalf was born September 26, 1817. He mar- 

170 



The Rev. Elijah Metcalf 

ried Cornelia English, daughter of Robert English, Sep- 
tember 1 8, 1844. He bought the farm on the Creek road 
adjoining his father's. It is now owned by Charles L. Met- 
calf. Here they Hved, with the exception of one year, until 
he died, September 30, 1892. Three children were born to 
them, Mary (Mrs. Wilson Robbins), Charles L. and Nelia 
E. (Mrs. Edward Dietrich). He was a man who was 
especially devoted to his family and had the confidence and 
esteem of all who knew him. 

Rachel Metcalf was born October 26, 1819. She came 
to Rush ford when a young girl and lived on the old home- 
stead, about two and one-half miles north of the village, 
until her death. Of the family of six children, she was the 
first to answer the summons of the death messenger. Her 
life was spent in doing deeds of kindness — administering to 
others in time of sickness and trouble. 

Zephi was born June 14, 1821. He married Harriet 
Gould in March, 1843. They lived in Rushford for a few 
years after their marriage, then went West, settling in Kan- 
sas. Seven children were born to them. He died in Ar- 
kansas City, January 23, 1895. 

Elijah Metcalf was born January 17, 1823. He came 
with his parents to Rushford and lived about thirty-three 
years on the farm which his father purchased, caring for 
both father and mother in their declining years. March 20, 
1861, he married Salome Gordon, daughter of Tarbel Gor- 
don. One daughter, now Mrs. L. J. Thomas, was born to 
them. In 1865 he bought a farm known as the Glaus farm, 
situated in the northeastern part of the town, where he 
lived a few years. His entire life, with the exception of 
nine years, was spent in Rushford. He was quiet and un- 
assuming in manner, and his character was marked by in- 
tegrity and loyalty to principle. His wife died July 8, 1893. 

171 



Rush ford Families 

On July 6th of the following year, he fell from a load of 
hay and was killed almost instantly. 

As a family, their history is in some respects quite re- 
markable. Reared by parents who were examples of piety, 
they were converted early in life and all united with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The four sons were each given 
en exhorter's license. At the time of, or soon after, the organ- 
ization of the Free Methodist Church, Lyman, Levi, Rachel 
and Elijah united with that body. Levi and Elijah at the 
time of their deaths were local preachers. The first death 
occurred when the youngest of the family was sixty-seven 
years of age, and all died within a little more than six years. 
The oldest was the last to answer the death call. 



JAMES H. GREEN 
Ellen Green Nye 

JAMES HAGERMAN GREEN was born in Muncie, 
Pennsylvania, in 1805. He was of English descent 
on his father's side and German on his mother's. He was 
one of twelve children — ten girls and two boys. His fath- 
er's folks were Quakers and his mother's Calvinists. When 
about eighteen, thinking he could do better than to stay 
on the little farm, he went to Elmira, New York, and learned 
the shoemaker's trade ; he next went to Cayuga Lake, where 
he was hving at tlie time of the ^Morgan excitement, when 
he had to do military duty ; from this place he was called 
to Perry, Wyoming County, where he lived a number of 
years and owned some property which he traded for a 
farm in Centerville. Daniel Searl, who ran a tannery and 
shoe shop in Rushford, went to Perry and hired him to 
oversee his work and keep his books. He hung back about 



James H. Green 

keeping tlie books, feeling that his education was not good 
enough, but Mr. Searl said they would both go to writing 
school. They did so and it proved to be a great help to 
Mr. Green. 

He came to Rushford in the fall of 1832. Here he 
met Lydia La Selle of Madison County. She was visiting 
her cousin, Mrs. Searl, and working at her trade, that of 
tailoring. Mr. Green and the young tailoress were drawn 
to each other, but she seemed loath to give up her inde- 
pendent life and gave him no answer until she had been 
home a year, when he went to claim his own, and they were 
married in the fall of 1836 by the noted Universalist min- 
ister, E. M. Wooley. At the wedding a poem was read 
by Mr. Wooley who had composed it for the occasion, and, 
as the custom was, cake and wine were served. 

Mrs. Green was of French descent and distantly related 
to La Salle, the famous explorer. Mr. and Mrs. Green went 
to housekeeping the spring after their marriage, in the 
rooms over the tannery on the place which Ellen Lyman now 
owns. There was no other place to be rented at the time. 
They staid there about three years, then Mr. Green bought 
a lot of Samson Hardy and built the house which is occu- 
pied by his daughters, Lucia and Sarah, who kindy cared 
for their parents in their old age. The apple trees on the 
lot were brought by Mr. Hardy on his back from Caneadea. 

Mr. Green finally started business for himself, but he 
never kept many hands. Edward Brooks learned his trade 
of him. There were several shoe shops in Rushford, all 
running at the same time — James Green's, Joseph Bell's, 
Cyrus L,athrop's, Roswell Williams', Henry Barras' and Ed- 
ward Brooks'. 

Mr. Green was the trustee and librarian of the west 
district for a number of years. 

^73 



Rush ford Families 

James and Lydia Green had six children : Marcus of 
Avon ; Mary, who was postmistress under Samson Hardy ; 
Ellen, a teacher, who married Marshall B. Nye, a carpen- 
ter in Rushford; Sarah and Lucia; and Samuel Green of 
Centerville. Claude Nye is the only grandchild of James 
Green living in Rushford. 

The belief of Mr. and Mrs. Green in the ultimate res- 
toration of all men to holiness and happiness was very dear 
to them. James Green died August 24, 1887. Lydia Green 
lived to be ninety-five years old, dying July 16, 1906. They 
did what they could ; they were good parents and honorable 
citizens. 

THE MOORES 
Eddy C. Gilbert 

JOHN, Richard and Isaac Moore came to Rushford from 
London, England, in 1832. Samuel, a younger brother, 
and his mother came four years later. They were descend- 
ants of the Earl of Torrington, Admiral in the English 
Navy when William and Mary were rulers of England. In 
the spring of 1833, John settled on three hundred and 
twenty-one acres of land two and one-half miles west of 
Rushford village, between the Cuba and Farmersville roads. 
King Howe built for him a log house in which he lived for 
twenty years. The door handle was a sheep's leg nailed on 
by the hoof. Isaac and Samuel were butchers, having served 
their time in England. Richard and Isaac had no children. 
Both died in 1881. Samuel died unmarried in 1868. John's 
children were Mary Louise, who married Thomas Agett, 
Elizabeth Ann, who married James Tapp, and John Tor- 
rington, who married Emma Howard and is now living at 

174 



The Colburns 

Oramel. John Torrington Moore still owns a part of the 
farm on which his father settled. John Moore died in 
1859 aged seventy-one and his wife survived him thirty- 
four, years, dying at the age of ninety. John Henry Tapp, 
Thomas J. Agett and Mrs. Ed. Stone are the grand chil- 
dren of John Moore who reside in town. 

Three oil wells have been drilled on the property once 
owned by John Moore, two in the sixties and one in 1880. 
The last well was sunk to a depth of 1,867^4 feet. Gas 
is still present and there were indications of oil at the time 
the well was measured. The first well, drilled by the spring 
pole method, was sunk six hundred feet when J. B. Gordon 
and W. Grifiin bought it of John Torrington Moore for 
one thousand dollars. It was sunk three hundred feet fur- 
ther and abandoned. A spring near by has always shown 
surface indications of oil. 



T 



THE COLBURNS 
H. J. W. G. 

HE Colburns are descended from an English family 
that settled in Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1639. One 
of a later generation, Warren Colburn, opened a school in 
Boston, and in 1821 published "First Lessons in Mental 
Arithmetic" which had an unparalleled sale. Moses Col- 
burn lived in Shrewsbury, Vermont. Four of his children, 
Charles, Seth, Holton and Phineas, emigrated to Allegany 
County, New York. Charles and his wife, Nancy Weth- 
erel, and three sons, George C, Caleb and Charles, came 
to Rushford in 1833 ^"^ settled in Podonque on lot twenty- 
one on the farm now owned by Leslie Larkham. A year 
or two later Holton Colburn, a younger and unmarried 

17s 



Rushforcl Families 

brother, walked to Rush ford from Rochester with his boots 
upon his back filled with potatoes for seed. He also bought 
land in Podonque on lot twenty-one. After building a home, 
he married Phebe Percy, daughter of Asa Benjamm. Seth 
Colburn came to Rush ford in the spring of 1836 when his 
son, Adoniram J., was five years old. His wife, Lucy Weth- 
erel, was a sister of his brother Charles's wife. The farm 
that he bought joined that of Charles on the north and that 
of Holton on the south. It is now owned by Eben Haynes. 

These three brothers lived in a row, enjoying one an- 
other's society many years. They were honest, industrious 
and ingenious, readily turning their hands to almost any 
kind of work. Soon after they came to Rushford Charles 
and Seth built a sawmill on Seth's farm, on Thunder Shower 
Creek. It was run day and night w^hen showers and freshets 
gave plenty of water. In 1846 Charles and his sons, George 
C. and Caleb, built a sawmill on Caneadea Creek. They 
afterward sold the mill to Calvin Kellogg, father of Hiram 
Kellogg. 

In 1858, the Colburn brothers, George C. and Caleb, 
were selling drygoods and groceries in the building that 
stands on the corner of Main and Church Streets ; but they 
soon sold their business to H. K. Stebbins, who came to 
Rushford in 1857. Abijah. the fourth son of Charles Col- 
burn, was born in Rushford. George C. Colburn died at 
his home in Kelloggville in December, 1878. 

Adoniram J. married Laura J., daughter of Randolph 
Heald. In 1871 they moved to Greenville, Michigan. Adoni- 
ram was skillful as a mechanic, and successful in his in- 
vestments in timber land. Henry, his younger brother, mar- 
ried Mary J. Forsath. In the spring of 1887, having sold 
their farm in Podonque, they went to Kansas where they 

176 



Robert Eng-lish 

remained a year. They then moved to Denver, Colorado. 
Neither Adoniram nor Henry is now Hving. 

In 1847 Nelson McCall advertised in the Republican 
Era to pay three cents above the market price, in goods, 
for bntter that would sell for as much in the New York 
market as Holton Colburn's. Two of Holton Colburn's chil- 
dren, Gratie M. and Alyra ( A'Irs. A. Fraser), live in Rush- 
ford on Buffalo Street; Julia (Mrs. Nathan B. Miller), 
died in 1895. 

Flora Colburn, daughter of George C. and Harriet 
Colburn, lives in Rushford. 

Phineas, the last of the four brothers to leave Ver- 
mont, settled in Hume in 1847. He was the grandfather 
of Charles C. Colburn, who in 1878 married May, daughter 
of Washington White. For about fifteen years he was 
engaged in the mercantile business in Rushford, leaving in 
1893 fo^ Oneonta, New York. 

Note — A part of the matter for this article was contributed 
by Gratie M. Cobiirn. 



ROBERT ENGLISH 

Victoria English Gordon 

OBERT ENGLISH was born in the north of Ireland 
in 1797. His father, John English, was English and 



R 



I 



his mother, Isabelle Broadhead. was Scotch. The family 
sailed for America when Robert was four years old. It 
was a three months voyage and proved to be a sad one, for 
one of their little girls died and was buried at sea. They 
landed in New York in 1801. After living in New York 
and Albany, they moved to Norway, Herkimer County, 
where Robert became acquainted with Abigail Williams, 

177 



Rushford Families 

to whom he was married in 1824 by Rev. Ehjah Metcalf. 
Robert Enghsh and wife remained at Norway, until after 
the birth of their second child, when they moved to Salis- 
bury where they lived until 1833, when with their four chil- 
dren and the wife's mother, Lodema Williams, they started 
for Rushford in company with their neighbor, John L. Lam- 
berson, and his family. There were four covered wagons 
in the train. Two drivers who came with goods returned 
to Herkimer County. They were eight days coming, bring- 
ing their provisions with them but stopping at the way- 
side taverns over night. When people along the road found 
they were going to Allegany they said, "You will starve. 
It is a poor country. They can't raise anything there." This 
so discouraged them that if they had not already purchased 
their farms, they might have turned back. Mrs. Cornelia 
English Metcalf, who was then six years old, remembers 
the kindness of people along the way. 

Mr. Lamberson's farm was next to the Centerville line. 
Mr. English's farm, bought of Elijah Freeman, was the 
next but one toward Rushford. Eliza, Cornelia. Frances 
and Ann, the older children of Mr. English, attended school 
in Centerville, about a mile from home, until the schoolhouse 
was built in the Benjamin district. Their first teacher was 
Orissa Rawson. who afterwards married Lorenzo Gordon, 
but the teacher spoken of WMth the highest praise was Wil- 
liam Woodworth. Aboiit a year after Robert English came 
to Rushford, his parents and two brothers came and bought 
two lumdred acres of land on the road west. Their land 
joined his. A part of it was owned later by Charles Far- 
well and Mr. Acker. They built three small houses, but 
in a few years sold out. John going to Canada, James to 
Little Genesee and the parents to live with Robert. Finally 
the jiarents moved to Canada where they remained during 

178 



Robert Eng-lish 

their lifetime. When the grandparents hved with Robert, 
there was a family of ten in a house that had Ijut two rooms. 
In the room below were the wheels and the loom beside 
other furniture; but with a fire place above and below all 
were comfortable. After the older ones and children were 
in bed, the' mother would scrub the floor, so in the morning 
they found it clean and white. On this place Charles and 
Victoria were born and the oldest daughter died. In 1847 
Robert English sold his place to Bethuel Freeman and bought 
the Charles Swift farm about two miles from Rushford on 
the Cuba road. His son Charles worked the farm and lived 
with his parents until 1875, when he moved to Belfast. Then 
the youngest daughter, Victoria, and her husband worked 
the farm and cared for her parents. The mother died in 
1881, the father in 1883. They lived together fifty-seven 
years, celebrating their golden wedding in 1874. 

They were both self-sacrificing for their children, work- 
ing hard to keep them in school. The daughters all taught 
school in Rushford, except Ann, who taught in the West. 
The father never punished his children, yet they quickly 
obeyed. He was a Methodist, attending church regularly 
and always taking his family with him. His children were 
all Methodists in belief. Mrs. English's mother was a Pres- 
byterian. When she died in 1844 the funeral was held in 
the Presbyterian Church and Rev. Gillan officiated. She 
was greatly missed by the family. 

Cornelia English married Levi Metcalf. Frances mar- 
ried William Williams in 1852. Their only living child is 
Anna (Mrs. Grant C. Woods). Ann married George White. 
Charles married Frances Burns of Belfast. They have eight 
children. Victoria married Charles Gordon in 1868. Their 
only child, Lloyd, lives in Rushford. Of the six children 
born to Robert and Abigail English all but Eliza and Fran- 

179 



Rush ford Families 

ces are living. Five generations of the English family have 
lived in Rush ford. 



JOHN LAMBERSON 
Frank Lamberson 

JOHN LAMBERSON was born in Herkimer County, 
October 29, 1792, and was reared there. He married 
Nancy Lobdell in Salisbury, Herkimer County, in March, 
1818, and to them were born in Salisbury seven children. 
He and his family, in company with Robert English and 
family, came to Rushford in 1833. When, on his way from 
Herkimer County, he mentioned where he was going, a man 
told him that he had a friend go to Allegany who "near 
starved to death." Mrs. Lamberson commenced crying and 
said, "You see what we are coming to." Mr. Lamberson 
settled on the farm now owned by John Davis, three miles 
north from the village. He was a quiet, upright man, a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for a num- 
ber of years poormaster of his town. 

His children were : Anson, who married Amy Hibbard 
of Warsaw; Huldah (Mrs. Chas. Benjamin); Nancy, who 
married Clinton Ely and after his death John Boyce ; James, 
who married Margaret Glover of Machias; Elvira, who 
married Daniel Woods and after his death E. S. Thompson ; 
Polly (Mrs. Albert Woods) ; Ralph, who died young; Electa, 
who never married. Electa was the only child born in Rush- 
ford. There are two grandchildren living in town, Romain 
Benjamin and Frank Woods. 



180 



RANDOLPH HEALD 
H. J. W. G. 

RANDOLPH HEALD was born in Chester, Vermont, 
January i8, 1808. He married in Rushford, August 
18, 1836, Rebecca Ruhama Woods, daughter of the Rev. 
Daniel Woods. They hved in Podonque where he owned an 
interest in a sawmill that stood east of the highway on land 
now owned by Ensworth McKinney. About 1845 with their 
three children, Nathan Ethelbert, Laura Jane and John Ran- 
dolph, they moved to East Rushford. In 1848 he and My- 
ron Woodworth were running a sawmill that stood near 
the site of the McElheney sawmill of today. Near by was 
his house which was carried off by the flood of 1864. By 
trade Mr. Heald was a carpenter. He and his wife were 
among the first members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. 

Nathan Ethelbert married Annette Foot of Conneaut, 
Ohio. She was the mother of his children. After her 
death he married Nancy Hamlin of Forestville, New York. 
He is a preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist Church and 
lives at Forestville. 

Laura Jane is now Mrs. Oscar Wilson of Belfast, New 
York. 

John Randolph married ]\lartha Woodard of Chardon, 
Ohio. To be near his parents, in 1873 ^e exchanged his 
farm in Podonque, now a part of the Van Dusen farm, for 
the house and store of Jame^ K. Hitchcock in East Rush- 
ford, now owned by Mrs. Catherine Small. He ran the 
store but two years. Beginning in 1891, he was for seven 
years employed by White and Elmer in their drug store 
in Rushford village. He is now living in his father's old 
home in East Rushford. 

r)Oth Nathan E. and John R. served in the Civil War. 

181 




John R. Heald 



John G. Osborn 

After the death of his wife, Rebecca, which occurred 
December 3, 1877, Randolph Heald married Mrs. Nancy 
Crocker,* widow of Harvey Crocker. Mr. Heald died 
April 5, 1899. 

Two of his four grandchildren are living in Rushford: 
Carrie A. Daley of East Rushford, wife of Hiram Daley 
and daughter of Nathan E. Heald, and Clifford, son of John 
R. Heald, who owns and occupies the Board farm in Podon- 
que. 

(See the sketch on Cheese Box Factories.) 

JOHN G. OSBORN 
H. J. W. G. 

JOHN G. OSBORN was born in Groton, New York, 
August 28. 1812. His father died when he was a 
small boy, leaving his mother with seven children of whom 
he was the youngest. 

In 1834 he came to Rushford. Soon after, in company 
with Harris Gilbert, he went to Centerville where for a 
year they ran a blacksmith shop. Returning to Rushford 
they bought out Col. Bairdt who owned a house and shop 
on Upper Street just north of the Globe Hotel. Later Mr. 
Osborn bought out his partner's interest and continued the 
business alone many years. He afterwards was engaged in 
buying and selling carriages. When he came to Rushford 
he had only five cents in his pocket; but he became prosper- 
ous, and the old house was replaced by a new square, one- 
storied house with Ionic columns. 

March 11, 1838, he married Esther, daughter of Jo- 

*Danghter of William L. Gar3^ Harvey Crocker lived on 
the farm in East Rrshford, south of Caneadea Creek, where his 
grand'-ons, Bertram ard Fred Crocker, now live. 

fDaniel Baird, father of Earl Baird. 

183 



Rush ford Families 

sephus Young. They lived sixty years on the place on 
Upper Street now owned by their daughter, Mrs. Minnie 
Jagers. Another daughter, Mrs. Ellen Gregory, resides in 
Lapeer, Michigan. 

When the Rushford Cemetery Association was organ- 
ized, October 2, 1850, with Elihu Talcott as president, John 
G. Osborn was chosen vice-president. He was a member 
of the first school board of Rushford Academy and was 
chairman of the committee of arrangements for the Semi- 
centennial. At the time of his death, which occurred in 
June, 1898, he had been for many years a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Mrs. John Kintz, Mr. Osborn's sister Nancy, lived in 
Rushford village, on the Caneadea road, where Lorenzo 
D. Weaver now lives. 



ISAIAH LATHROP 

Alice Lathrop Holden 

ISAIAH LATHROP was born in Bethel, Vermont, Au- 
gust 2, 1805. When a young man he came on horse- 
back from Vermont to Pike where he taught school. Here 
he married Allathyna Greene, also a teacher. In 1835 Mr. 
Lathrop removed to Rushford and opened a tin shop, the 
first in town, on the corner of Main and Bufifalo Streets. 
He lived in rooms in the rear of the store, while his new 
home across the creek, on Lower Street, was being built. In 
this home he lived until his death. 

In 1852 he erected a three-story building on the site 
of the old shop. The west store was used as a fully equipped 
hardware store until it burned in 1885. Willis C. Lathrop 
was in partnership with his father up to the time of his 



Isaiah Lathrop 

death in 1884. At that time J\lr. Lathrop resigned the busi- 
ness into the hands of his son-in-law, Henry A. Holden, 
and his nephew, Irving L. Bond. In the early times this was 
the only hardware store for miles around, and people came 
from all the surrounding towns to buy hardware and hand- 
made tinware. 

Many young men found employment with Mr. Lathrop, 
several of whom later became wealthy and influential men. 
Mr. Sessions worked about twenty-five years in the old tin 
shop, and the shelves filled with shining pans, pails and dip- 
pers of all sizes, teapots and coffeepots showed his skill. 
Mr. Lathrop himself worked with the others and could 
often be seen mending sap boilers and making stovepipe. 
The east store was occupied by a brother, Cyrus Lathrop. 
Here boots and shoes were made to order by Cyrus Lathrop 
and Lucius Kimball. The third floor was fitted up as a 
lodge room, and was used by the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, of which Mr. Lathrop was a member. When the 
building was burned in 1885, the east store was used by 
Myron Claus as a harness shop. 

In the flood of 1864, the store was in danger of being 
swept away. A large hole ten feet deep was washed out 
at the southeast corner, and some of the people who were 
being helped from the hotel on the opposite corner came 
near losing their lives there. At this time Mr. Lathrop 
was busy at his home assisting people across the angry tor- 
rent that, filled with driftwood, flowed down Lower Street. 
Lie, with difficulty, rescued a one-legged shoemaker, whose 
crutch had been struck by a log. Eighteen people spent a 
night of anxiety at the Lathrop homestead. Among the 
number was the family of Mr. O. T. Higgins whose home 
next door had been washed away. 

Mr. Lathrop served the town of Rush ford as commis- 

185 



Rush ford Families 

sioner of common schools, inspector of common schools, 
town clerk, supervisor and assessor. He was one of the 
founders of Rushford Academy. His name appears as an 
applicant, in the charter given by the Regents of the Uni- 
versity of the State of New York. In early years he was a 
Universalist and attended the services in that church until 
they were discontinued. He was always a staunch Republi- 
can, a great admirer of Horace Greeley, and a subscriber 
of the New York Tribune for many years. He had a liberal, 
unprejudiced mind and always welcomed new thought. 

The children of Isaiah and Allathyna Greene Lathrop 
were: America. Julia (Mrs. C. W. Bond), Ellen, Janie, 
Mary (Mrs. Hiram Coats), Willis and Alice (Mrs. Henry 
A. Holden of Buffalo), the only one who survives. 

Mr. Lathrop died at his home in Rushford in 1887, and 
is buried with other members of his family in the Rushford 
Cemetery. 



DAVID BABBITT 
Allan H. Gilbert 

DAVID BABBITT left Otsego County in 1836, and lived 
about a year in Pike, Wyoming County, before com- 
ing to Rushford. He was born in 1796. He married Lucy 
Shipman (born in 1798, died in 1872), who was of Puritan 
lineage and believed to be of pure English descent. 

David Babbitt, like most of the early inhabitants of 
Rushford, supported his family mainly by farming, though 
he worked at shoemaking. But he did not allow himself to be 
completely absorbed in the routine of his vocation, for the 
details of nature as he saw them about him were eagerly 
grasped and synthesized by his inquiring mind. A flower 

186 



David Babl)itt 

to him was not a flower and nothing more. He observed 
the life and properties of every plant he saw in the virgin 
forests. The only man in the region who rivaled him in his 
knowledge of botany was a German herb doctor, who lived 
in Yorkshire, Cattaraugns County. Every year the two met 
to spend two or three days comparing their observations. 
But David Babbitt's interest in the world around him was 
not limited to flowers ; astronomy had great fascination for 
him. He so enjoyed being out of doors at night that he 
usually took a walk before his rather late bedtime. He was 
in the habit of saying that those who were never out of 
doors at night knew only half the world. 

The earth at his feet was no less attractive to him than 
the hosts of the heavens. His study of the forms of the 
land led him to a theory of their origin in full agreement 
with the opinion of the best geologists. In connection with 
his interest in geology, he investigated the strange heaps 
of earth supposed to be the work of the mound builders. 
His study of these and of the habits of the Six Nations led 
him to disbelieve in the existence of the mound builders. 

These studies of the varied phenomena of the world 
around him were for David Babbitt the foundation for a 
theory of the structure of the earth, and even of the uni- 
verse as a whole. One of his theories was that of a fourth 
state of matter as he called it. Matter in this fourth state 
occupied somewhat the same position in his system as does 
ether in that of physicists of the present day. By its in- 
terventinn he strove to account for many phenomena, such 
as that of the transmission of light, which he thought not 
otherwise satisfactorily explained. 

It is scarcely to be thought that he carried on his 
studies and speculations without the aid of books. Though 
comparatively unprovided with education, he was a constant 

187 



Rushford Families 

reader. Every book which came into his hands he drew 
something from. Nor was his reading confined to natural 
sciences. He had read sufficiently in history to be able to 
use the analogy of the ancient states of Greece in his study 
of the Iroquois. There was not a volume in the old Po- 
donque district library which he had not read. 

David Babbitt showed his approval of the old rhyme: 
"The brewer's craft and the matter's art 
Cheer the body and warm the heart" 
by always taking a drink when he happened to be where 
liquor was on sale. On Sundays when he put his horse in 
the hotel barn, after leaving his wife at church, he always 
stopped at the bar to refresh his body before going on to 
partake of the metaphysical refreshment furnished by the 
preacher. At the celebration of the taking of Richmond 
he is said to have lapsed into the same condition as most 
of the worthy citizens of Rushford. Measured by the 
standards of his own day, he was not an intemperate man. 

When David Babbitt came down to his last sickness, 
he felt the end approaching late one evening. Being un- 
willing to die in bed he had those with him assist him to 
the reading chair in which he had spent so many hours of 
study, where he breathed his last March 17, 1867. 

David and Lucy Babbitt were the parents of six chil- 
dren, Horace, Sally (Mrs. Lowell Farwell), William, Lucy 
(Mrs. Samuel Bellows), Lemyra and Albert. 

B. F. Babbitt, the son of Horace, lives on the old home- 
stead in Podonque. 

XoTE — Information furnished by B. F. Babbitt. 



MICHAEL WARREN 
A. L. Warren 

ABOUT 1837, Michael Warren, with his wife and four 
children, Frank, Betsy, Michael and Nathan, came 
from Ashfield, Massachusetts, to Pike, New York. After 
remaining a year in Pike, where Elmira was born, he came 
to Rush ford and settled near Hardy's Corners on a farm 
bought of Oramel Griffin. A small frame house and a 
small barn had been built, and some chopping, but not 
much clearing, had been done. There was not room enough 
between the stumps in the dooryard to turn a horse and 
wagon around. The neighbors told him he would starve 
to death on that farm, but he said, "I guess not." Being 
a man of strong constitution and iron will, he took it for 
his stent to dig out one stump each morning before he ate 
his breakfast. He must have gotten up rather early or eaten 
his breakfast late for some of the stumps were very large. 
So the work went on. In 1843 h^ built a sawmill which 
did good service for twenty-one years. In 1864 the high 
water took out the dam, and it was never rebuilt. 

Two children were born in Rushford, Caroline, who 
died young, and Albert L., who lives on the old homestead. 
Elmira (i Mrs. Joel Chamberlain, 2 Mrs. Wm. Griffith) 
passed her life in Rushford. J. Frank Warren died in Por- 
tage City, Wisconsin, in 1907. Betsy (Mrs. Samuel Corn) 
lives in Oklahoma. Michael Warren, Jr., went to Oil City, 
Pennsylvania ; he wrote that he was coming home, but he 
was never after heard from. Nathan Warren lives in Texas. 
Alichael Warren w^as a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Rushford. He died in 1873, ^^^ was buried in 
the cemetery near Hardy's Comers. 

i8y 



N 



Rush ford Families 

THE BEECHERS 

David Herbert Beecher 

ORMAN and Lambert Beecher, sons of Deacon 
Joseph A. Beecher, came when young men to Rush- 
ford. Norman came about 1840, and Lambert, who fol- 
lowed the pursuit of harness making in the village, sev- 
eral years later. Norman settled on a farm about one and 
one-half miles northwest of the village, beginning at once 
to clear off the hardwood timber with which a large part 
of tract was covered. On this farm, where he re- 
sided more than twenty years, he reared his family of 
seven boys, Lyman, Chester, Franklin, Henry, Herbert, 
Lawrence and Ward. Norman Beecher was of that sterl- 
ing type of Eastern stock that believed in hammering man- 
hood into his boys, if he did not do anything else. He 
was very strict in his discipline, but large-hearted and 
kind. He was always firm in his declaration of truth, his 
favorite expression being "I will state the facts, let it cut 
where it will." Of these boys only the following are liv- 
ing at the present time: Chester, now residing at Great 
Barrington, Massachusetts; Henry, at Binghamton, New 
York ; Herbert, at Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Law- 
rence, at Dunkirk, New York. They were a musical 
family and I believe had more fun to the square inch than 
any other family in the neighborhood. They attended many 
a paring-bee which was wound up with music by the 
Beecher band. With the tones of the violin, cello and flute 
were blended the sweet voices of their cousins, the George 
girls, who lived near by. 

Of course we all bought our clothes and groceries, hoes 
and spades at the Higgins store in the village. Regularly, 
every spring, father would take a long string and measure 

190 



I 



The Beech ers 

the heads of us boys for straw hats, tying a knot in the 
string to indicate the size of each boy's head, and when 
the new straw hats came home, I tell you there was a high 
old time, as was the case when we each got a pair of new 
boots. And what good old times we had in the old school 
house on the Creek road, with the dear old boys and girls 
I still have in mind, Julia and Augusta Ely, William Ely, 
their brother, and Dan, another brother, who was killed at 
the battle of Chancellorsville, Dezell Hill and his sisters, 
Ellen Lyman and others. I still have all of the reward 
of merit cards covering the seven years I went to the 
school on the Creek road. I remember the time our 
school joined the village school in a picnic and brother 
Henry and I led the procession with fife and drum. That 
was the proudest day of my life. Henry was fourteen 
and I was twelve years old. After we boys became 
older we got a sort of finishing off at the Rushford Aca- 
demy, which institution we devoutly revered, believing 
that what we could not learn there was not worth learning. 

There was kind old Doctor Stacy, who took us through 
the hard sicknesses. As a boy I could not understand 
him. 

The Civil War came and brother Chester and brother 
Lyman enlisted with others of our brave boys. I remember 
how pale and thin Charles Pettit was when he came home 
from Libby Prison, and how we missed Dan Ely. Brother 
Henry, then fourteen, wanted to go as a drummer boy 
(for he was a drummer) but mother said she could not 
spare any more of her boys. Brother Chester still has 
the old musket and knapsack he carried from 1863 to 
1865. 

Then the big flood came that carried away stores and 
houses and just paralyzed the little village. 

191 



Rush ford Families 

Lambert Beecher reared three sons and two daughters, 
Augustus, Edward, Fred, Helen and Rosamond, all of 
whom, except Edward, who died when about forty years 
of age, are still living. Augustus found his way to the 
Middle West where he was a successful stock raiser and 
farmer. He now resides in Oklahoma. Edward served 
in the Civil War. Fred entered the railroad field and 
serves the Lehigh Valley Company as passenger-train con- 
ductor. He resides at Auburn, New York. Rosamond is 
still ( 19C9 ) living with her father at Newark \'alley, N. Y. 
He is ninety-six years of age, in full possession of his facul- 
ties and a joy to those with whom he associates. 

So many pleasant memories come to me as I think of 
the old Rush ford home and its dear associations. Those of 
us who have lived there may well point with some degree 
of pride to the men who have done things in the world, 
whose home was once in Rushford: H. R. Palmer, the noted 
composer of sacred music ; Frank W. Higgins, late gover- 
nor of New York State ; O. T. Stacy, sometime member 
of assembly, and others who took prominent places in 
professional and commercial life. 

Note. — The writer of the foregoing may well be 
classed with the "men who have done things." The fol- 
lowing is taken from a Grand Forks, North Dakota, paper : 
"Mr. David H. Beecher of Grand Forks, North Dakota, 
is the leading mortgage loan dealer in the State, having 
successfully handled Red River Valley investments for 
more than twenty years. Mr. Beecher has been president 
of the LTnion National Bank of Grand Forks for more 
than fifteen }-ears and at present occupies the same posi- 
tion in several other banking institutions. His success is 
the admiration of all who enjoy the pleasure of his ac- 
quaintance." Agnes George Taylor. 

192 



I 



Rush ford Families 

THE GEORGES 
David Herbert Beecher 

THE members of the George family living in Rushford, 
were the sons and daughters of David George. They 
came from Livonia in Western New York to Rushford at 
an early date. The boys were Gardner, Baxter, Allen, 
Harvey and Egbert, and the girls were Clarissa, Anne, 
Lois and Elizabeth, all of whom have passed to the 
beyond. Anne, the first wife of Norman Beecher, died in 
early womanhood. He afterwards married her sister, 
Lois, to whom were born all of the family of boys, except 
Lyman, the oldest. 

Dr. Egbert George was a dentist and druggist at 
Rushford when a comparatively young man. Allen lived 
on a small farm about a mile from Rushford village. He 
was one of those sweet-spirited men whose kindly influ- 
ence was felt by all those with whom he came in contact. 
He reared a charming family of two boys and three girls 
Those living are Carl George at Duluth, Minnesota ; Clara 
George Thayer at San Raf ail, California ; Elizabeth George 
Nye at Allegan, Michigan, and Agnes George Taylor in 
Rushford. Willis died at the age of twelve. The girls were 
noted for their sweet voices and womanly graces. 

THE GEORGES 
Agnes George Taylor 

IN the spring of 1840. the three older sons of David — 
Gardner, Allen and Baxter, came to Rushford and 
bought the farm on the Creek road now owned and oc- 
cupied by Albert Farwell. The three brothers lived in a 

193 



Rush ford Families 

log cabin until the following winter, when they removed 
to a frame house. After some years of bachelor life on 
the little farm, Gardner married Olive Boardman. He 
built and lived for a time in the house on Lower Street, 
now the home of Lucian Hardy. He afterwards went to 
Farmersville where he bought a farm. Later he returned 
to Rushford where most of the remainder of his life 
was spent. He died in October, 1900, his wife having 
died some years before. The four children born to them 
died in early manhood and womanhood. 

Baxter married Mary Ann Gordon. After a few 
years he removed to Iowa, where he lived until, alone, 
and in old age, he went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that 
he might be near his brother Egbert. He died there about 
1902. In 1846 Allen married Eliza Thompson. He lived in 
Rushford village about two years, then he bought the little 
farm one mile up the Creek road, now owned by W. H. 
Leavens. This was his home during the remainder of his 
short life. He died in 1864. 

Harvey and Egbert with their mother and sister Eliza- 
"beth came to Rushford about 1842, and bought the house 
on Main Street now occupied by Clark Woods. In October, 
1846, Harvey George was running a "Cheap Cash Store, 
No. 2 Union Block, at the foot of Main Street." The 
following May he moved to McCall & Adams's new build- 
ing, just above the store of Clark McCall. After giving 
up his store, he married and went to New York. He soon 
drifted west and old age found him in California where 
he died in 1902. 

Egbert was employed as clerk in the Union Store, and 
afterward as clerk in the drug store of Congdon & Dick- 
inson. Upon the death of Mr. Congdon in the summer 
of 1862. the business was sold to McCall & George. Eg- 

194 



The Georges 

bert was also a dentist and went by the name of Dr. George 
both in Rush ford and Horseheads where for a time he 
was engaged in the drug business. He afterward moved 
to St. Paul, Minnesota, and from thence to Sioux Falls, 
South Dakota, where he died in igoi. In i860 he married 
Margaret Williams, one of Rushford's dear old school 
teachers. 

The mother died in Rushford in 1849. Elizabeth 
married and returned to Livonia. Anne died in Newark 
Valley, the home of the Beechers, some two years after 
her marriage to Norman Beecher. About 1839, Norman 
Beecher married Lois George and came to Rushford, where 
he bought the farm now owned by Mrs. Irene Kendall and 
occupied by Norton Lane. Clarissa George married Leman 
Tufts, who died in Rushford in 1849. Their children who 
spent their younger days in Rushford are Sarah C., wife 
of Dr. Dickinson, who since the death of her husband 
some ten years ago, has resided in National City, Cali- 
fornia ; Edgar of Dallas, Oregon ; Winfield of Concordia, 
Kansas, and Charles of National City, California. Clarissa 
afterwards married Lambert Beecher, a harness maker of 
Rushford. 

"Aunt Jane of Kentucky" says "People used to say 
that the Crawfords and the Simpsons was like two mud- 
puddles with a ditch between them — always runnin' to- 
gether." The same might be said of the Beechers and 
Georges. 

Elizabeth, wife of Allen George, died at the home of 
her daughter, Clara George Thayer, in February, 1909. 



195 



Rush ford Families 
ROBERT MORROW 
H. J. W. G. 

IN early life Robert Morrow lived in Stratford, Fulton 
County. His father was Irish and his mother Scotch. 
When he was twenty-one, he started out in life with nothing 
save the few clothes which he had and a gift of a pair of 
socks knit for him by his mother. Some time after, in com- 
pany with others, he built a sawmill in the woods, not far 
from Stratford. Having lost in this venture all that he 
had, he used to say, "Partnership is a poor ship to sail in." 
The sawmill is still called Morrow's mill. 

In T837 he married Mary Jennings. They moved from 
Stratford to Schoharie where Elizabeth (Mrs. Tarbel Gor- 
don of Topeka, Kansas) was born. Having come to Rush- 
ford to visit Smith Slocum, a relative, they decided to 
move to this place. They returned to Schoharie and sent 
their goods by canal to Cuylersville, thence by teams to 
Rushford. On the Fourth of July, 1843, ^r. Morrow and 
his family came up the Hamilton hill in Centerville on their 
way to Rushford. Within a year they bought the farm on 
the Cuba road, afterwards known as the Howard farm. 
Soon after the purchase, Mr. Morrow overheard some 
passersby saying, "They can't ever pay for that farm." He 
went into the house and told his wife; she said, "O I guess 
we can, other people have paid for theirs and I don't see 
why we can't, if we work and are careful." When the 
times for payments came, he always paid the interest, made 
the payments and had money beside. On this farm, Hen- 
rietta (Mrs. Dana Jenison of Tropico, California) and 
Ida (Mrs. Willis H. Leavens) were born. After living 
here fourteen years, he sold the place to A. W. E. Damon. 
Later Mr. Morrow bought of David McKinney the farm 

196 



John W. Hill 

on the east road, north from the village, now owned by 
Benjamin Williams. 

Having lived in Fulton County, he was especially in- 
terested in cheese making, so he became one of the com- 
pany to build the Rushford Cheese factory. After selling 
his interest in the factory, he bought a farm on the Caneadea 
road, three-quarters of a mile from Rushford village. It 
is now owned by Mrs. Julia Walker. Here Mr. Morrow 
died in 1867. The following year Mrs. Morrow moved 
into the village, having purchased of Dr. O. T. Stacy* his 
house on Lower street. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Morrow were for many years 
members of the Methodist Church. Their daughter, Hen- 
rietta, graduated from the Allegany Academy of Music at 
Friendship. 

In Mrs. Morrow's later years her daughter, Mrs. 
Leavens, returned from Sioux Falls, Dakota, to care for 
her, and remained with her until Mrs. Morrow's death on 
August 8, 1899. Mrs. Leavens still lives in the house on 
Lower Street that belonged to her mother. 

JOHN W. HILL 
Jennie W. Bush 

JOHN W. HILL was the son of John Hill, who moved 
from Vermont to Middlebury, New York, where John 
W. was born in 1814. When he was fourteen years old, 
he' came to Centerville with his father who bought a farm 
near Fairview. He helped his father clear the land and 
build a dwelling and a barn. After arriving at manhood, 
he bought the farm now owned by Samuel B. Williams. 

*Dr. O. T. Stacy moved to the John C. Nobles place. It is 
now owned by John G. James. 

197 



Rush ford Families 

In 183Q he married Sophia E. McClure, granddaughter of 
General Joseph McClure, the first settler of Franklinville. 
He then moved onto the farm he had bought and built a 
dwelling and barn. He resided here until 1851, when he 
bought a farm of two hundred and fourteen acres in Rush- 
ford, where he moved. The buildings being old and of lit- 
tle value, he proceeded to build another set of buildings. 
Here he spent the remainder of a useful and active life. 

The buildings and the farm today show that he fol- 
lowed his motto, "What you do, do well." Besides doing 
his own work, he found time to build many buildings for 
others. These, also, show the substantial manner in which 
they were erected. He served the town as assessor, high- 
way commissioner and supervisor. He died in 1891. 

To John W. and Sophia E. Hill were born seven chil- 
dren, two of whom are now living, John Dezell, who owns 
and resides on the old homestead, and Wealtha Jane, wife 
of Watson W. Bush. 



w 



THE THOMASES 

John J. Thomas 

ILLIAM G. THOMAS was born in Pembrokeshire, 
South Wales, in 1790. When eighteen years old 
he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1820 he married Miss 
Phoebe Reese, who was born in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, 
in 1806. He was a member of the Baptist Church at Fish- 
guard and led the singing there for fifteen years. In 1849 
he came in a sailing vessel to America; they were thirty- 
eight days coming from Liverpool to New York. He 
reached Utica, New York, July 4. 1849. where he worked 
at his trade. He loved America because here he received 

198 



The Thomases 

two dollars a day, while in Wales he received only two shil- 
lings (fifty cents) a day. He worked for the same railroad 
contractor for two years and helped build the first depot and 
freight house at Watertown, New York. In 1850 he sent 
to Wales for his wife and children; they lived at Rome until 
December, 1852. hi March, 1853, he rented the Oramel 
Osborn farm in Centerville. When they left Rome, people 
said they had gone "out West." The nearest convenient 
railroad station being at Attica, a distance of thirty miles, 
a team and wagon were hired to carry the goods to Center- 
ville. The mother and younger children rode while the 
father and older children walked. 

In 1854 he bought and moved onto the Warren McKin- 
ney farm on lot thirty-one, in the town of Rushford, where 
he lived until his death in July, 1878. Phoebe his wife 
died in August, 1882. The old homestead is now owned 
by their son John J., the only surviving member of his 
father's family. 

Since the first year that Phoebe Thomas was in Amer- 
ica, it began to snow in October, she said to her hus- 
band, "If this is America I want to go back to my native 
land." He replied, "Don't be discouraged, Phoebe, we'll 
have summer by and by." The ground was not seen until 
the next April. He was proud of his citizenship in 
"the land of the free and the home of the brave," and was 
a staunch Republican, casting his first vote for Millard 
Fillmore. He was a man of few words and direct to the 
point; if he had any grievance or praise he went straight 
to the person with it. When in old age, he loved to sing 
with his family the hymns he had simg in Wales. 

William and Phoebe Thomas were the parents of 
seven children, Mary P., David W., Benjamin, Elizabeth 



199 



Rush ford Families 

and Ann (both of whom died young), John J. and Mar- 
garet. 

Mary P. was born in 1825; she married George P. 
Thomas in 1852. They Hved in Rushford where she died 
in 1897. Their children were William W., John (de- 
ceased), David (deceased), Benjamin F., George H., 
Luther J. and Edward R. 

David W. lived in Shelby, Orleans County, where he 
■died in 1888. 

Benjamin married Eliza Hancock. They lived in New 
York City where he died in 1890. Their children were 
George (deceased), William H., Clarence B., (deceased), 
and Grace E. 

John J. was- born December 2, 1842 ; in 1849 he mar- 
ried Margaret Roberts of Freedom, Cattaraugus County. 
To them were born six children : William G., Carrie M. 
(Mrs. Thompson), Mary R. (deceased), John R., Minnie 
E. and Homer H. 

Margaret, born in 1844, married John D. Charles. 
They lived at Woodstock, Illinois, where she died in March, 
1896. 



200 



IV 
THE CHURCHES 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF RUSHFORD 
Compiled by H. J. W. G. 

IN 1813 religious service was held in Rushford by the 
Rev. Ephraim Sanford, a Baptist preacher, vv^ho went 
about the country dressed in buckskin and v^earing a coon- 
skin cap from beneath v^hich hung his long black hair. His 
work was not that of organization, but he preached the gos- 
pel to save souls wherever he could find listeners. 

November 7, 181 5, James McCall, Levi Benjamin, 
Eliab Going, Joshua L. Delano, and Aaron Capen together 
with Elder Beckwith, a missionary, organized themselves 
into a conference with the name Caneadea Regular Baptist 
Conference. Elder Beckwith and Eliab Going were ap- 
pointed a committee to draft Articles of Faith and Practice. 
The brethren met the next day and accepted the report 
which consisted of twelve Articles of Faith and twelve 
Articles of Practice. They also decided to hold their 
covenant meeting the first Saturday of each month. 

December 2, 181 5, the Articles of Faith and Practice 
were adopted and subscribed to by the following : James 
McCall, Levi Benjamin, Joshua L. Delano, Aaron Capen, 
Eliab Going, Abigail Benjamin, Jerusha Gordon, and Sally 
Benjamin. The last two did not join in membership. The 
first Covenant meeting held January 6, 1816, began with 
prayer and praise, then "the brethren and sisters gave a 
relation of the exercises of their mind." June 29, 18 16, at 
the request of the Conference a council was called, Elder 
Nathan Peck, a missionary, presiding, and the First Bap- 



The Churches 




Obed T. Wilmot 

tist Church of Riishford was organized in "gospel order." 
The next day the Lord's Supper was first celebrated. 

February 20, 181 7, five trustees were appointed as 
follows : First class, James McCall ; second class, Jonathan 
Going and Jeremiah Rappleye ; third class, Junia Freeman 
and Joshua L. Delano. October 7, 1820, it was decided to 
meet each Thursday evening for prayer. In 1821 the 
trustees were instructed to select the one hundred acres 
of land granted by the Holland Purchase Company and to 
obtain a deed of it. This land was granted to the first 
church organization in town. 

The little church held their meetingfs from house to 



First Baptist Church of Rush ford 

house or in a school house until 1817 or 1818 when a meet- 
ing-house was built on the north side of West Main Street, 
on the site of the house now owned by Mrs. Olive M. Per- 
sons which is the second dwelling west of the bridge. This 
was the lirst meeting-house in the town. The congregations 
became so large that this small building was inadequate, so in 
January, 1838, it was resolved to build a house of worship. 
Brothers Samson Hardy, Nathan Lewis, John Holmes, 
Milton McCall, and Junia Freeman were the building com- 
mittee. The house was completed and dedicated the same 
year. In 1859 the gallery was removed, new windows were 
put in and the lecture room built on. In 1902 it was re- 
seated, and in 1908 a foundation of cement blocks was 
placed under the church and cement porches were built. 

In its early history, like other churches of the time, 
much attention was paid to discipline. The church was "no 
respecter of persons'" in this matter. A committee was ap- 
pointed to visit a sister because she had been absent from 
Covenant meeting for several months. They reported that 
they found her engaged in the vanities of the world with but 
little hope of returning. Since she was a member of the 
church in Ovid, the clerk was instructed to acquaint that 
church with their proceedings. February 21, 1818, the first 
exclusion occurred. Improper conduct, conversation and 
company were the cause. In February, 1822, letters of 
reproof were sent to absent members under censure. The 
next year a sister made retraction for impudent speeches 
she had made at a special meeting. September 5, 1825, 
five were excluded for heresy. In March, 1826, Eleaser 
Freeman was excluded for refusing to pay Phillip Capen 
for a cow. In March, 1827, a brother and sister were ac- 
cused of being intemperate in the use of spirituous liquors, 
so a committee was sent to visit them. The brother said he 

203 



The Churches 

had never been intoxicated but once and that was at the 
house of a brother. The sister confessed her fault, but both 
were finally excluded. Ten years later the following reso- 
lution was passed: "That we consider that the practice of 
using ardent spirits as a beverage is immoral." 

Notwithstanding the many cases of discipline during 
the first twenty-five years, one hundred sixty persons were 
baptized, more than a hundred of them by Elder Absalom 
Miner. It was during his pastorate that a four day meeting 
was appointed by the Association at Friendship to be held 
in Rushford in September, 183 1. The meeting continued 
twenty-one days. People came from far and near, and 
many were converted. A part of these meetings was held 
in the Methodist Church, west of the creek, since that was 
the largest building in the place. 

Eliab Going, the first settled pastor, was hired to preach 
one-half the time at twelve dollars a month to be paid in 
produce — wheat, eight shillings ; corn, five shillings. To 
defray the expenses of the church each male member paid 
a poll tax and, in addition, a tax was levied on his property. 
Land was valued at one dollar an acre, improvements one 
dollar an acre, money at interest forty dollars a hundred, 
horses at ten dollars, oxen at six dollars, colts and calves 
at one dollar and frame barns at twenty-five dollars. In 
1844 the salary of the pastor was three hundred dollars for 
ten months' service. At a business meeting in September, 
1845, Father McCall ofifered the following resolution: That 
every male member pay one dollar and every female fifty 
cents, and that each male member report to the financial 
committee how much he is worth, aside from debts, and 
an assessment be made to defray church expenses." The 
church owes a debt of gratitude to James McCall, who was 
one of the church in its infancy and a loyal, devoted and 

204 



First Baptist Church of Rushford 

efficient member until his death in 1856. The salary of the 
pastor in 1908, was six hundred dollars and the use of the 
parsonage. The expenses of the church are now met by 
subscriptions, socials, sales, etc. 

January 5, 1832, it was resolved to employ Brother 
Steadman Searl to find the fuel necessary for one year, 
make the fires, sweep the house once a week, scrub twice 
a year, find candles or oil, and light the house when re- 
quired. Not less than four candles were to be used in an 
evening, and he was to receive ten dollars for his services. 
In June, 1851, Chauncey McDonald was hired to keep the 
house in order, light the house, seat the people, ring the 
bell, make the fires, etc. When the Rev. Chauncey Wardner 
closed his pastorate in 1845, ^^- McDonald was sexton; 
when he returned to Rushford in 1869 Mr. McDonald was 
still the sexton. Philetus Gratton took care of the church a 
number of years. Myron Morgan is the present sexton. 

At a Covenant meeting in 1848, it was resolved that we 
dissuade the brethren from uniting with secret societies ; so 
when a letter was granted to E. Chase in July, 1850, it was 
stated that he was a member of the Rushford Baptist 
Church in good and regular standing, except that he joined 
the Odd Fellows against the known wishes of his brethren. 

In 1822, '23 and '24 the spiritual state of the church 
seemed to be low. In February, 1834, a day of fasting and 
prayer for backsliders was appointed." In June some back- 
sliders returned. 1843, 1857, 1867 and 1877 were years of 
unusual spiritual prosperity. 

Among the Sunday School superintendents may be 
mentioned D. D. Persons, D. B. Sill, A. M. Taylor whose 
term of service was thirty-two years, and Obed T. Wilmot, 
whose labors were cut short by death in September, 1908. 
The present superintendent is Eben Haynes. The Sunday 

205 



The Churches 

School library was secured largely through the efforts of 
L. H. Mason. 

CLERKS OF THE CHURCH. 

Eliab Going 1816 

Nathan C. Kimball 1821 

James Going 1826 

Nathan C. Kimball 1831 

Bates T. Hapgood .' 1834 

Nathan C. Kimball 1847 

D. B. Sill 1861 

L. C. Kimball 1871 

H. A. Kimball 1875 

A. M. Taylor 1881 

Mrs. Jennie A. Westcott 1907 

(L. C. and H. A. Kimball were sons of N. C. Kimball.) 

LICENTIATES. 

Peter Freeman Peter Mead 

Ezra Going Charles Wilkinson 

James Going Elbert O. Taylor 
Eliab Going " I. H. Foster 

R. Cherryman Frank Himes 

James Mclntyre Arthur Warren 
Edward James 

LIST OF PASTORS 

Titus Gillet (first salaried pastor) 1818-1819 

Eliab Going (first settled pastor) 1821-1829 

Absalom Miner 1829-1833 1834-1840 

Simeon G. Miner (one year) 1833-1834 

Chauncey Wardner 1843-1845 

E. L. Harris 1845-1850 

E. J. Scott 1851-1854 

I. W. Simpson 1854-1863 

206 



Mission Circle 

A. T. Cole 1863-1868 

Chauncey Wardner 1869- 1872 

A. V. Eddy 1872-1876 

M. Livermore 1876-1883 

P. S. Everett 1883-1886 

W. L. Hunger 1886-1890 

C. B. Smith 1890-1892 

A. R. Spencer '. 1892-1898 

T. P. Poate 1899- 

Of the present pastor, Rev. T. P. Poate, the Rev. J. 
G. Macklin, a Methodist minister, once wrote : "His ser- 
mons were thoughtful, scholarly and always helpful. His 
illustrations were selected from wide reading and extensive 
travel, and served to make the gospel message clear, force- 
ful and practical." 

The Rev. S. G. Miner in writing at the time of the 
Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the Baptist Church spoke of 
the blessed associations with the Benjamins, Goings, Beck- 
withs, McCalls, Freemans, Hapgoods, Kimballs, Taylors, 
Delanos and Capens; and the Rev. C. Wardner in recalling 
those who were active and strong when he first came to 
Rushford, mentioned among others the Hardys, the Cham- 
berlains, the Holmes, the Lewises, the Bells, the Westcotts 
and the Whites; and years hence some one may add the 
Warrens and Wilmots. the Hayneses and Howards, the 
Morgans, Masons, Thomases and Clauses. 

MISSION CIRCLE 
Jennie A. Westcott 

THE command of our Lord to His disciples was, "Go 
ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every 
creature." And many of his children are today trying to 
follow this command, among them the members of Mission 

207 



The Churches 

Circle of the Baptist Church of Rushford. This Circle 
was organized March 31, 1887, and after more than twenty 
years still continues the work then begun. We have studied 
for our mission lessons nearly every country on the globe, 
trying to familiarize ourselves with the work that is being 
done and the needs of the cause everywhere. We have 
tried to reach some of the dark corners of the earth with 
our means and our prayers, having sent from our little 
circle during these years $758.61 in cash and goods valued 
at $524.91. Our present number of annual members is 
about the same as it has been during the years since organi- 
zation. Our number of workers is about forty. Our 
president at this time is our pastor's wife, Mrs. T. P. Poate. 



T 



THE SOCIAL 
Jennie A. Westcott 

HE eleventh of December, 1883, the ladies of the First 
Baptist Church of Rushford met in the prayer room 
of the church for the purpose of organizing themselves into 
a body to advance the social side of the church and to es- 
tablish a fund for the benefit of the church and society, hop- 
ing thus to promote a feeling of good fellowship as well as 
to advance the cause of Christ in our midst. This organiza- 
tion was called "The Social of the First Baptist Church of 
Rushford" and after twenty years of labor, it is still known 
by that name. Death has visited our ranks but as one after 
another has been called to "cross the bar" others have been 
raised to carry on the work. During the years of our la- 
bors we have raised and expended the sum of $1,575. The 
past year we raised m'nety dollars which were used to help 
in the repairs on our church. 

208 



THE FIRST SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPIS- 
COPAL CHURCH IN RUSHFORD. 

H. J. W. G. 

ELIJAH METCALF was one of the first traveling 
preachers west of the Genesee River. He joined the 
Genesee Conference in 1810. the year of its organization, 
coming as a probationer from the New York Conference. 
In 181 1 he and two others were assigned the Holland Pur- 
chase and Caledonia Circuit. While on this circuit he 
formed the first Methodist class in Rushford at the home of 
Daniel Woods, father of D. Clark Woods. The members 
of this class were Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Wilson and Mr. 
and Mrs. Daniel Woods. 

In 18 16 the first Methodist Episcopal Church in Rush- 
ford was organized with ten members : Mr. and Mrs. 
Joshua Wilson, Mr. and ]\Irs. Daniel Woods, Mr. and Mrs. 
William Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Tarbel Gordon, and Mr. and 
Mrs. James Gordon. About this time William Gordon was 
licensed to preach and he was an acceptable, earnest, local 
preacher until his death in April, 1870. His contributions 
to the church were generous, and his cheering, encouraging 
exhortations were of inestimable value. Because of his 
love for the church and to uphold her integrity, he at one 
time, when the preacher was about to go to Conference with 
his salary unpaid, sold his last cow and from the proceeds 
paid the preacher in full. 

The first meeting-house was built in 1819, on the south 
side of Main Street nearly opposite the Baptist meeting- 
house. 

On the 5th day of January, 1835, "publick notice having 
been given two successive Sabbaths or meeting days," a 
meeting was held for the purpose of incorporating the 

209 




William Gordon 



First Society of M. E. Church 

Society, Fuller Atchinson and Daniel Woods, preachers of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, being present. Daniel 
Woods, Samuel Persons, and Tarbel Gordon were elected 
trustees of the Society to be incorporated ; and it was re- 
solved that the Society to be incorporated be known as the 
First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Rush- 
ford. The Society was incorporated January 14, 1835, when 
Fuller Atchinson and Daniel Woods appeared before A..S. 
Allen, Judg-e of the Court of Common Pleas, and made oath 
to the proceedings of the meeting. 

Since the meeting-house was too small to accommodate 
the increasing congregations, in August, 1835, the trustees 
purchased of Joseph and Esther Young a part of the lot 
now occupied by the Society, and in 1837 erected a more 
commodious and imposing church. This church was thirty- 
eight by fifty feet in size. The entrance was at the north 
end, into a vestibule with stairs at the right and the left 
leading into a gallery and to a room used for prayer and 
class meetings. Two doors opened from the vesti- 
bule into the audience room; between the doors was the 
pulpit; in the northeast and northwest corners were stoves 
with seats on three sides. The choir sat in the gallery at 
the south end of the church; and the congregation, with 
the men on the east side and the women on the west side, 
sat facing the doors; this probably induced early attend- 
ance at church. Here the people worshiped until about 
1854. 

At an official meeting in 1852, the following persons be- 
ing present, Rev. C. L. Cheney, John Lamberson, Israel 
Thompson, Isaac Stone, John Worthington, Robert Mor- 
row, Amos Peck, R. S. doff, Levi Metcalf, Rufus Adams, 
C. A. Wiltse, and A. Washburn, the following preamble and 
resolutions were adopted : 

211 



The Churches 

Whereas, by the blessing and favor of Almighty God, 
our congregations have become quite too large to be ac- 
commodated in our present house of worship, and whereas, 
under the smiles of a beneficent Providence our members 
and friends generally have enjoyed temporal prosperity, 
therefore, 

Resolved, that it has become our sacred and impres- 
sive duty to use our best endeavors for the erection of a 
house of suitable dimensions for the accommodation of all 
who may desire to meet with us in the worship of God, 

Resolved, that William Gordon and the Rev. C. L. 
Cheney be appointed a committee to draft and circulate a 
subscription paper, collect funds and solicit contributions 
for the above named purpose. 

The Rev. C. L. Cheney did not stay in Rushford long 
enough to complete what he had begun, but the Rev. San- 
ford Hunt took up the work and with the help of others 
carried it on to completion. 

On January lO, 1855, the new church was dedicated. 
The first service consisted of singing by the choir, reading 
of the Scripture by the Rev. C. D. Burlingham, dedicatory 
sermon by the Rev. Henry Ryan Smith from the text "And 
the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom 
and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household," 
anthem, "I was glad when they said unto me let us go into 
the House of the Lord" by the choir, and benediction by 
the Rev. Ira Simpson. The church was not large enough to 
contain all the people who came to attend the service. In 
the evening the Rev. Benjamin T. McNeal preached to 
another large congregation. 

The southeast corner of this church was the "Amen 
Corner." When the preacher touched upon Christian ex- 
perience there would be hearty response from this corner ; 



First Society of M. E. Church 

among those seated here were William Gordon, R. S. Goff, 
John Worthington, Levi Metcalf, Elijah Metcalf, Isaac 
Stone, Aaron Rice, Ely Woods, E. S. Noble, John Boyce, 
John Lamberson, Robert Morrow, Samuel Persons, Wilson 
Gordon, Frank Warren, Frank E. Woods, and Warren 
Persons; in the body of the church were Israel Thompson 
and daughter Mary, John, Alonzo and Hosea Persons with 
their families; J. B. Gordon and family; A. W. E. and A. H. 
Damon with their families; Alfred Smith and wife; and 
many others. All but one whose names are mentioned have 
passed from the church militant to the church triumphant. 
November 5, 1850, a resolution was passed to have six 
trustees. S. Y. Hammond was re-elected. The others were 
A. Washburn, John Lamberson, Ely Woods, Amos Peck, 
and William Gordon. The following resolution was also 
passed : "Resolved that the trustees be instructed to pay 
R. S. Goff $25 for which sum said Gofif is to furnish wood 
and candles, sweep the house, build the fires and see that 
the house is kept sufficiently warm during the ordinary 
services of the church, light the house for evening meet- 
ings, and also find wood for singing school, in case there 
should be one, for one year commencing November 7, 
1850." The records were signed by Ely Woods, chairman, 
and A. Washburn, secretary. At the next trustee meeting, 
November 7, 1851, S. Y. Hammond resigned and A. W. E. 
Damon was elected in his place. Samuel Hopkins was hired 
to care for the church; he received $21 for six months' 
service. December i, 1866, the trustees were A. H. Damon, 
D. H. Woods, Clarke Rice, Wolcott F. Griffin, Spencer 
Packard, A. W. E. Damon, D. C. Woods, Israel Thompson, 
and Charles Benjamin. Only D. C. Woods survives and he 
has been a trustee ever since. The board of trustees in 1904 
consisted of C. H. Ives, Myron Claus, John G. James, A. 

213 



The Churches 

W. Litchard, D. C. Woods, Martin Lyon, A. L. Litchard, 
Wm. Beaumont, and James G. Benjamin. C. H. Ives was 
chairman and J. G. Benjamin secretary of the board. 

Beginning with 1845 there have been but four recording 
stewards— A. Washburn, 1845-1864; A. W. E. Damon, 
1864-1867; W. F. Woods, 1867-1872; J. G. Benjamin, 1872 
to the present time. 

The first parsonage was bulk in 1840, on the ground 
now owned by the Masons between their house and the 
creek. The next parsonage, the present one, was purchased 
in 1865. The first minister to occupy it was Milton H. 
Rice through whose labors and those of his estimable wife 
was experienced one of the largest and most successful re- 
vivals that has occurred since the building of the present 
church. They also organized a Normal Class for Sunday 
School teachers, the first in the Genesee Conference. This 
organization was continued until 1896. 

The Sunday School in 1866 was the largest in the his- 
tory of the church. The report to the Quarterly Conference 
dated September 17, 1866, was as follows: 

1865. 

Pupils 140 

Average attendance 113 

Officers and teachers 20 

Infant class 3° 

Total attendance 190 

1866. 

Pupils 200 

Average attendance ,. I73 

Officers and teachers 23 

Infant class 3^ 

Total attendance 255 

214 



First Society of M. E. Church 

The same year the following collections on the pastor's 
salary were reported by class leaders at a Quarterly Confer- 
ence : William Gordon's class, $24.50; Ely Woods' class^ 
$26.03; John Worthington's class, $11.00; D. C. Woods*^ 
class, $32.42; John Boyce's class, $10.50; E. S. Noble's class» 
$6.00; Walter Adams'* class, $2.00. Total, $112.45. 

It was during the pastorate of M. H. Rice that Mrs. 
Harriet Griffin (Mrs. Wolcott Griffin) came to the church. 
She was especially gifted in conducting meetings for chil- 
dren. At these meetings held each Sunday evening before 
preaching service, Bible stories illustrated by pictures, the 
catechism and hymns of the church were taught, and Chris- 
tian testimony encouraged. Songs, printed in large type, 
were hung upon the wall. In one of the songs were the 
words : 

"Though we may forget the singer. 
We will not forget the song ;" 
but neither singer nor song are forgotten. Some who at- 
tended those meetings are active in the church today. In 
after years, Mrs. M. H. Rice said that for principle, loyalty 
to duty, and love for God and humanity, the Rushford 
church had not its superior in the Genesee Conference at 
the time that she and Mr. Rice became identified with it. 

The following persons have been licensed as preachers 
and exhortors: S. Y. Hammond, John De La Matyr, Gilbert 
De La Matyr, Walter De La Matyr. R. S. Goff, Johm 
Worthington, Samuel Hopkins, John C. Nobles, Wm. H.. 
Kellogg, Levi Metcalf, Marlin Lyon, Walter Gordon, De 
Bias Worthington, M. C. Dean, J. Frank Warren, Albert K. 
Damon, Frank E. Woods, Lowell Farwell, Warren Per- 
sons, Allen C. Burr, R. S. Hurd, Nathan W. Warren, 
Charles Daley, Henry C. Woods, Luther Jenison, Charles. 

*Lived in Lyndon. 



The Churches 

M. Damon, N. Mchityre, L. A. Stevens, R. Y. Renwick, 
Fletcher Wells, and Thomas Atwell. When there were a 
number of local preachers in the church, the preacher in 
•charge after he had finished his sermon, would frequently be 
followed by one or more local preachers in exhortation. 

A majority of those who have joined the church have 
been converted through revival efforts, though there have 
teen times when conversions at the regular services were 
not rare. The conversion of James Bell, one of the brightest 
in the history of the church, is an illustration of the passage 
of Scripture, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee." 
James was asked by a companion to go into Sunday School ; 
when he refused, he was told to "go to Hell, then." This 
imgracious remark led to serious thinking and resulted in 
his conversion. 

Those present at the dedication and also present at the 
fiftieth anniversary of the present church edifice, were 
Mrs. Cornelia Metcalf, Mrs. Mary Thompson Gordon, Miss 
Ellen E. Gordon, D. Clark Woods, and James G. Benjamin. 

A. L. Litchard is the superintendent, Greydon R. Davis 
the secretary, Ely Millikin the librarian, Mrs. Jennie W. 
Gordon the chorister, and Mrs. Minnie Woods the organist 
of the present Sunday School (1909-1910); the average 
attendance is sixty-five and the average collection is a dol- 
lar and thirty cents. The present pastor, the Rev. F. A. 
Johnson, is an excellent sermonizer and a man of pleasing 
address and exemplary life. Of the original members, 
Joshua Wilson and Daniel Woods are represented in the 
membership of today by Mrs. Ella Woods Glaus, Mrs. Jen- 
nie Woods Gordon, and D. Will Woods ; William Gordon 
by Miss Ellen E. Gordon ; James Gordon by James G. Ben- 
jamin, and Tarbel Gordon by !Miss hiez Leavens and Lloyd 
Gordon. 

216 



First Society of the M. E. Church 

NAMES OF PASTORS. 

Cyrus Story 1820-21 

James Hazen. Philetus Parkus 1822 

John P. Kent. Jonathan E. Davis 1823 

John Arnold, John P. Kent 1824 

Daniel Shepardson, Menzer Doud 1825 

Daniel Shepardson, Mifflin Harker 1826 

Elijah Boardman, Mifflin Harker 1827 

RUSHFORD AND FRIENDSHIP. 

John Wiley, Ira Bronson, Sheldon Doolittle 1828 

RUSHFORD. 

John Wiley, Daniel Anderson 1829 

John Cosart, John Stainton 1830 

John Cosart, Philo E. Brown 183 1 

PIKE AND RUSHFORD. 

Reeder Smith, Samuel Wooster, Wm. D. Buck . . 1832 
Samuel Wooster, Daniel Anderson, Carlos Gould, 

Fuller Atchinson 1833 

RUSHFORD AND FRIENDSHIP. 

Fuller Atchinson, Abram F, Waller 1834 

Augustine Anderson, Frances Strang 1835 

RUSHFORD. 

FToratio N. Seaver, Carlos Gould 1836 

Abram C. DuBois, John M. Bell 1837 

Abram C. DuBois 1838 

Orrin F. Comfort 1839-40 

David Nichols 1841-42 

Nathan Fellows 1843-44 

Chas D. Burlingham 1845-46 

217 



The Churches 

Chauncey S. Baker 1847 

John McEwen 1848-49 

Charles Shelling 1850 

Benjamin T. Roberts 1851 

C. L. Cheney, supply 1852 

Sandford Hunt 1853-54 

Milo Scott 1855-56 

Jason G. Miller 1857-58 

George W. Terry 1859 

Wm. S. Tuttle 1860-61 

John McEwen 1862 

George G. Lyon, John McEwen 1863 

Milton H. Rice 1864-66 

Edward A. Rice 1867-68 

William Blake 1869 

E. Lansing Newman 1870-71 

Appointed P. E. April 17, 1872, Carlton C. Wilbur supply. 

Zenas Hurd 1872-73 

Roswell K. Pierce 1874-75 

Otis M. Leggett 1876-77 

Chas S. Daley 1878 

William McGavern 1879-80 

William B. Wagoner 1881-83 

Asa H. Johnson 1884-86 

R. C. Grames 1887-88 

James E. Wallace 1889-90 

Withdrew from conference July, 1891, J. A. Gardner supply. 

RUSHFORD AND CANEADEA (1892) 

Thomas W. Chandler 1891-94 

William H. Manning 1895 

Mark Kelley 1896-98 

David L. Pitts 1899 

218 



First Society of the M. E. ChurcH 

Thomas C. Bell 1900-01 

John G. MackHn 1902-03 

"wilHam L. Clough 1904 

David White 1905-06 

Frank A. Johnson 1907-08 

The Genesee Conference has been held in Rushford 
twice. The first time September 25 to October 2, 1850. 
Bishop Wangh presided, Rev. J. M. Fuller secretary, Rev. 
Chas. Shelling pastor. The second conference was held 
October i to October 6, 1863. Bishop Matthew Simpson 
presided, Rev. A. D. Wilbor secretary. Rev. John McEwen 
pastor. Bishop Waugh said he thought the people of so 
small a village must have large hearts to entertain the Con- 
ference. 

Rushford Circuit was formed in 1820. 

Pike and Rushford Circuit included Haight (New 
Hudson), Rushford, Centerville, Belfast, Caneadea, Hume, 
Pike, Eagle, Gainesville, and Castile. 

In 185 1 the name Rushford District was changed to 
Olean District. 

REMINISCENCES BY FRANK ENEAS WOODS 

I remember the days of the building of this church. 
We were very fortunate in our pastor. Dr. Sandford Hunt. 
He was a financier and a builder. In the winter of 1853 and 
1854. just fairly settled in the parsonage, he, with Elder 
William Gordon, our most liberal and well-to-do member of 
the official board, were driving about through the snow 
drifts, getting subscriptions for the new church. The enter- 
prise was pushed. The minister watched the progress of 
the work and with his coat off assisted the workmen. Such 
an all round preacher, scholar and financier is seldom seen. 
Xo accident marred the work, but when the tower was being 

219 



The Churches 

erected, a beam slid from its height and just missed our dear 
brother, Clark Woods, who, working below, was spared to 
fill out a long life of usefulness. In about a year from the 
undertaking the edifice was completed. 

The church, I believe, was dedicated practically free 
from debt. The choir, led by Avery Washburn and Milton 
Woods, had been practicing for several weeks and rendered 
anthems to the delight of the large audience. 

REMINISCENCES BY ESTHER WOODS ELDRIDGE. 

I was at the dedication and a beautiful service we had 
and a crowded house, full to overflowing. Brother 
Edward Pratt remarked that it would probably never be so 
full again. The friend he was addressing said, "O, it will 
be perhaps, when some noted and worthy man dies." And 
sure enough, it was when in a few weeks, Brother Pratt him- 
self was taken so suddenly from us, but our loss was his gain. 
As we came down from the audience room, Mrs. Boardman 
said she would like to know who would be the first to be 
buried from there and sure enough, it was her own self. 
How strange ! 

But I have not time to write or you time to listen to all 
I might write. But fifty years ago the class meeting was a 
great success with Brother John Worthington to invite 
people in. The Holy Spirit, it seems to me, was always there 
and love prevailed. Faces were lit by Heavenly light and 
Brother Gofif would commence and sing his pet verse : 

"Here Fll raise mine Ebenezer 
Hither by Thy help I come, 
And I hope by Thy good pleasure 
Safely to arrive at home." 

He has already arrived in the home prepared for him 



I 



First Society of the M. E. Churcli 

and his sainted wife, Sophia. Praise the Lord. You re- 
member he always in love feast said, the last quarter had 
been the best in his life. I wish all Methodists would try to 
be able to say the same. Amen. 

When I think of the church fifty years ago, Brother 
Israel Thompson, our staid standard bearer, is foremost in 
the picture. Brother Washburn in class would sing with 
fervor, "My Days are Gliding Swiftly By," but he is still 
spared, wonderfully spared, and no doubt can still sing the 
same song. 

Fifty years ago we had exhorters and they used to wake 
us up. They had encouragement and held meetings in school 
houses. Father loved to sing, "On Jordan's stormy banks I 
stand and cast a wistful eye to Canaan's fair and happy 
land, where my possessions lie," and once Father Aletcalf 
said to him in class meeting, "When I die I want Brother 
Woods to sing that at my funeral," and he did. 

But I need not write more. We old ones can see 
Brother Stone with tears filling his eyes as he related his 
experience and referred to his sweet wife as the one under 
God who assisted him into the Kingdom. Mother's especial 
gift was in prayer. Her prayers, to me, seemed to reach 
the very throne and were heard and answered. Rushford 
church sent out some able ministers ; some died in prison 
and died triumphantly and went home to Glory. 

REMINISCENCES BY REV. T. W. CHANDLER. 

It was in the closing hour of our conference at Dans- 
ville, October 6, 1891, when every ear was attent to catch 
the name of place and pastor as Bishop Andrews deliberately 
read the appointments, that I heard this announcement, deep- 
ly impressive to me: "Rushford — T. W. Chandler." On the 
following Saturday T left Smethport, Pa., for my new ap- 



The Churches 

pointment. Leaving the train at Caneadea, I asked for the 
Rushford stage. A good, honest-faced man, looking me over 
with an inquisitive eye, answ^ered, "I suppose you are our 
nev^^ preacher, that we are looking for today." I confessed 
to the indictment and took a seat with him, for it was none 
other than Brother Clark Rice who at that time drove the 
stage. I had never been in Rushford previous to this. Every 
preacher remembers the feeling experienced in going to a 
new charge, as he looks the town over, being often very 
conscious that he himself is as thoroughly being looked over 
by the people. I was driven to the home of Brother Grover 
Pratt, where I was very kindly entertained and the warm 
hospitality accorded me by the family soon drove away all 
thoughts of my being a stranger, and almost convinced me 
that I had always known them. 

The Sabbath congregation was large, not an unusual 
thing on the opening day of a new preacher, and attentive, 
and my four years in Rushford only deepened the impres- 
sion of that first Sabbath, that I had an unusually intelligent 
and attentive audience before me. The choir had always 
had the reputation of being far above the average of church 
choirs in its ability and in its harmony. How else could it 
be with its fine personnel and under the leadership of that 
prince of choir leaders. Brother Milton Woods? They 
were equally fortunate in an organist, Clara Claus, always 
faithful and in her place, sunshine or storm, until one dark, 
gloomy Sabbath in October, 1893, when her place was vacant 
and it was whispered through the audience as they assembled 
for worship, "She is dying!" The hymns were sung that 
day without the organ. Our last number was "Guide Me, 
O Thou Great Jehovah." It was learned afterward that 
the time of her death was almost exactly coincident with the 
singing of the last stanza: 



First Society of the M. E. Church 

"When I tread the verge of Jordan, 
Bid my anxious fears subside; 
Bear me through the swelHng current, 
Land me safe on Canaan's side. 
Songs of praises, 

I will ever give to thee." 

One sliort week and that dreaded scourge of diseases, 
diphtheria, had done its work and her pure, sweet life went 
out, leaving only its rare fragrance in the sad and desolate 
home. Her successor, Lena Hall, was faithful and efficient. 
Just six months after entering on her service she, too, with 
equal suddenness, though not by the same malady, was sum- 
moned from her earthly life and friends. Again the organ 
was draped in love and grief for the absent one. Mrs. Prof. 
Walters very kindly consented to act as organist the remain- 
der of the year and rendered most acceptable service. 

The Sabbath School was, during my entire pastorate, 
under the wise and efficient superintendency of Brother A. 
W. Litchard. It was a strong right arm to the church. How 
could it be otherwise with such a corps of teachers as Mrs. 
John Persons, Mrs. J. B. Gordon, Mrs. Laning, Mrs. Helen 
Gilbert, Ellen Gordon, Mrs. W. W. Merrill, Mrs. Jennie 
Gordon, Flora Lyon, Miss Hyde, since become Mrs. A. M. 
Tarbell, Dr. Wells and others? 

Whatever decadence may have come to the class meeting 
in other places, no such charge can be urged against the 
Rushford church. Few churches in the Conference have 
more thoroughly kept alive the original spirit and intent of 
the class meeting than has Rushford. Brother Clark Woods 
is the veteran class leader of the church ; he was present at 
the dedication fifty years ago and is still active and joyous in 
the service, reminding us of one of old, of whom it was 

223 



The Churches 

said : '"his eye was not dimmed nor his natural force abated.' 
Brothers Myron Glaus and Martin Lyon have long been, as 
they still are, his zealous co-workers. 

The 6 o'clock Sunday evening meetings-, as well as the 
Thursday evening meetings, were well attended and were sea- 
sons of great profit, while the love feasts and quarterly meet- 
ings were unusual seasons of blessing. The Ladies' Aid So- 
ciety was well organized and a very helpful factor in church 
work. Among its presidents I recall Ellen Gordon and 
Mrs. Arlie Ives. The Rushford Quarterly Conference often 
elicited from the Presiding Elders the remark of its being a 
strong official boon. Of its deliberations, Brother James 
Benjamin has for a long time been its careful recorder. 
Flora Lyon entered upon her work as a deaconess and her 
larger life of usefulness, during the four years. About the 
same time Dr. Wells united with the Genesee Conference. 

My relations with Pastors Smith and Spencer of the 
Baptist Church were of the most fraternal character. I 
recall with great pleasure the principals of the High School, 
Profs. McGuire, White and Walters, with their assistant 
teachers. I always admired the pride which the Rushford 
people took in their school, and its prosperity. After noting 
the large number it has sent out and the impress of intelli- 
gence and refinement it has left on the community, they have 
good reasons for being proud of its history. 

One morning shortly after my coming to Rushford, I 
met down street a bright little fellow striding along with a 
wooden gun on his shoulder. "Good morning, Sir!" was 
my salutation, "What are you going to shoot now?" Hh 
prompt reply was, "Fm hunting for bears !" How he came 
out with the bears, I never heard, but he certainly had shot 
ahead successfully for one of the numbers on the semi- 



224 



The Remodeling of the M. E. Church 

centennial program was a fine address by Allan Gilbert, the 
president of the Epworth League. 

The first year I held services almost every Sabbath af- 
ternoon at Hardy's Corners. The second year Caneadea was 
united to Rush ford and has remained so ever since. A sad 
thought to me, as I suppose it was with all of the former 
pastors present, was the memory of the absent ones, the 
faces once so familiar but never again to be seen in this 
world. It comes to me like the minor chord in the joyous 
strains of an anthem. How their faces come back to me ! 
Milton Woods and wife, John Persons and wife, Hosea 
and Alonzo Persons, Mrs. Myra Ann Farwell, Daniel 
Woods and that warm friend of the church, J. B. Gordon, 
Clark Rice, Brother John Beaumont, Mrs. Griffith, Mrs. 
Chas. Benjamin, Grandma Swift, A^rs. O'Connor, Mrs. 
Marietta Kellogg, Mrs. Morrow and others whose names 
are written in heaven. And while thinking of these I cannot 
forget the living and the homes with which are linked so 
many pleasant memories. 

THE REMODELING OF THE M. E. CHURCH AT 
RUSHFORD, NEW YORK 

We've been up to the M. E. Church, 
We've climbed its stairs once more ; 

But we stopped and gazed in wonder. 
As we stepped within the door. 

For lo ! some skilled magicians. 

With true decorative art. 
Have given the dear old structure 

A complete "change of heart." 

225 



The Churches 

The pews are rich and ornate, 
Placed in semi-circular style; 

And all the faithful pilgrims 

Wear, a sort of — circular smile. 

For they've labored long and patient, 
To perfect and re-arrange 

Their modest place of worship; 
And they glory in the change. 

You can claim no more the backache 

As excuse to stay away. 
With all those high-backed settles. 

Just inviting you to stay. 

Now all the little boys and girls. 
Must mind their p's and q's; 

And do just as they're told to do, 
While sitting in such pews. 

The walls and frescoed ceilings 
Are so restful to the eye; 

Small wonder if some members 

Weren't caught napping on the sly. 

We never s'posed we'd live to see 
This change, so grandly wrought ; 

The plain, old-fashioned church for us 
Was good enough, we thought. 

But now, we find that modern ways 

Are well to emulate; 
'Tis best to have our churches 

Kept quite strictly up to date. 

226 



Ladies Aid Society 

Yes, — they've held a grand old rally, 
And old pastors far and near 

Came to praise the earnest workers ; 
And bring to all God's cheer. 

They put heart and soul into their sermons 
With an eloquence pure and high ; 

Pictured 'life as not all of living,' 
Nor, is it "all of death to die." 

For we know there is a heaven 
Which begins down here below ; 

Where love to God and all mankind 
Straight from the heart doth flow. 

There's a "gateway" too — man can't improve. 

Although, it's oft been tried ; 
Great men have pondered over it, 

And studied 'till they died. 

It shines undimmed by ages, 
Like gold refined from dross ; 

'Tis the "wav" to the Kingdom of Heaven 
Bv the SYMPHONY of the Cross. 



1906. 



LADIES' AID SOCIETY 
Ellen E. Gordon 

OCTOP.ER 26. 188 1, a few lady members and friends of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church met at the home of 
Mrs. /\sa Worden to consider the question of organizing a 
Ladies' Aid Society in connection with the work of the 

227 



The Churches 

church, the object of which should be to aid the church in 
every way possible in the promotion of the gospel, to raise 
funds by proper and Christian means and appropriate them 
to such purposes as the society should deem best. Novem- 
ber 9 the ladies met at the home of Mrs. G. M. Pratt. The 
constitution and by-laws framed at the meeting at Mrs. 
Worden's two weeks before were adopted and the follow- 
ing officers chosen: President, Mrs. Helen Laning; First 
Director, Mrs. J. B. Gordon; Second Director, Mrs. A. 
Worden ; Secretary, Mrs. G. M. Pratt ; Treasurer, Mrs. W. 
H. Leavens. The Board of Managers consisted of the reg- 
ularly elected officers and Mrs. W. B. Wagoner and Miss 
A-Iinerva E. O'Conner. The Committee on Fancy Work 
were Miss Emma Claus, Miss Erna Wier and Miss Mary 
Pratt. The amount raised at this meeting was $5.97. 

The first year of the society there were seventy-eight 
members. Each one paid ten cents per month, except the 
lady at whose house the society met. Of the original seventy- 
eight members there are thirty-seven living. The whole 
amount raised the first year amounted to $124.07. At the 
suggestion of Rev. W. B. Wagoner, the pastor, the society 
assumed the debt of the six hundred dollars remaining un- 
paid upon the pipe organ. November 23, 1887, the consti- 
tution was amended to make the board of managers consist 
of the officers and the ex-presidents. 

In 1888, while Rev. R. C. Grames was pastor and Mrs. 
A. J. Lyon president of the society, the church was repaired 
to the amount of six hundred dollars, of which the ladies 
furnished $557.00. The windows were bought with some 
of the money left by the will of Miss Electa Lamberson. 
The lettering upon the pipes of the organ was the work of 
Rev. R. C. Grames. Through the efforts of Mrs. Lyon 
the chandelier was purchased at a cost of a hundred and 

228 



Ladies Aid Society 

eighty-five dollars. Just before it was received and while 
all were doing their best to be ready for the re-opening of the 
church, clouds and darkness closed around the last days of 
August, for on the twenty-eighth a Higher Power bade us 
pause. "My ways are not your ways, saith the Lord." 
Truly we felt they were not, for how could we be parted 
from our beloved president who had been an inspiration to 
us all through the year. Pleasantly and eagerly did she de- 
vise ways and means to have every member interested in 
doing her share of church work. To us her life's mission 
seemed incomplete, to the Father doubtless her mission 
was as complete as though she had lived her three-score 
years and ten. On November 5, 1902, while the Rev. T. 
W. Chandler was pastor, Mrs. William Griffith was chosen 
president for the second time. March 17 clouds and dark- 
ness hung over us again. The Lord said to Mrs. Griffith, 
"Thy work is done, come up higher." 

In 1905, while Rev. David White was pastor, Miss 
Ellen E. Gordon was chosen president for the fourth time. 
This year a thorough repair of the church was made to 
the amount of $2,831.75. This amount includes the value 
of the pews, the choir chairs and the bell. The Ladies' 
Aid gave three hundred dollars toward the repairs of the 
church at this time. 

In 1907, while Rev. F. A. Johnson was pastor, Mrs. 
W. H. Leavens was chosen president. Since the society 
was organized in 1881 there have been seventeen presidents 
of w^hom eleven are still living. The society has raised 
$3,118.12 in twenty-eight years, the largest amount any one 
year being $232.04. Without wishing to boast, we count the 
Ladies' Aid Society a success, spiritually, socially and finan- 
cially, and trust it may be kept alive as long as the church 
remains and that it may receive the approbation of the Lord. 

229 



The Churches 

May his blessing rest upon it in the future as in the past. 
The officers in 1908 were : President, Mrs. W. H. 
Leavens ; Secretary, Mrs. C. H. Ives ; Treasurer, Miss Ellen 
E. Gordon. 



EPWORTH LEAGUE— 1895-1910 
H. J. W. G. 

THE Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in Rushford was organized at the suggestion of Mrs. 
John Persons, during the early part of the pastorate of the 
Rev. W. H. Manning, who was its first president ; other 
members of the cabinet were Mrs. H. J. Walter, Miss Etta 
Filer and Mrs. E. C. Gilbert. The attendance of those who 
made no profession of religion has from tlie first been un- 
usually large. At the same hour of the Epworth League 
service a class meeting was held in another room of the 
church. The church membership was not large enough to 
support two strong meetings at the same hour ; so when 
the Rev. Mark Kelley was pastor, he advised the evening 
class to be given up and the members to join the Epworth 
League ; since some of the members were so attached to the 
class meeting, this was not accomplished until the Rev. T. C. 
Bell was pastor. Then the League took on new life, since 
there was a combination of the ripeness of maturity and the 
freshness of youth ; the ministry of song and modern ideas 
were joined to depth of religious experience. 

When the Rev. J. G. Macklin was pastor, the League 
reached its height, the room at times not being large enough 
to contain all who came. The Rev. Macklin left the man- 
agement of the League to the cabinet but he was always 
present at the devotional meeting to give a short, cheery and 

230 



Free Baptist Church 

helpful talk. It was during his pastorate that, at stated 
times, talks upon "Old Masters," illustrated by pictures, 
were given by the first vice president, followed by ad- 
dresses by the pastor upon "Great Religious Leaders." 

Social gatherings with unique programs, under the 
direction of a committee with Mrs. A. M. Tarbell as chair- 
man, have been given in Agricultural Hall. Under the 
auspices of the League Miss Clara Mills from the Bufifalo 
Deaconess Home came to the church in December, 1909, 
and gave interesting addresses upon her work. The League 
is strong enough to carry on devotional meetings without 
reading from clippings or periodicals. The average attend- 
ance is about forty-two. 

Present Officers (1909-10). 

President Greydon R. Davis 

First Vice President Mrs. E. C. Gilbert 

Second Vice President Miss Nora Crocker 

Third Vice President Miss Eunice Bullock 

Fourth Vice President Mrs. A. M. Tarbell 

Secretary Miss Mary Johnson 

Treasurer Clare R. Davis 

Organist Miss Ethelyn Woods 

Assistant Organist Miss May Brady 

THE FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH IN RUSHFORD 

THIS church was organized December 11, 1830, at the 
home of Pomeroy Johnson, by Amos C. Andrus. 
There were six constituent members. 

At a meeting held February 4, 1837, at Elder Thomas 

Note— Taken from records loaned by Albert Rossman, clerk 
of the Freewill Baptist Church at Rawson. 

231 



The Churches 

L. Pratt's, the church in Rushford requested to join the 
church in Lyndon, and the following persons were received 
by the church in Lyndon: William Lillibridge, Naaman 
Swallow, Sister Swallow, Sister Harvy, Lydia Pratt and 
Parthenia Thirds. 



THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
H. J. W. G. 

AFTER public notice had been given, a goodly number 
of people assembled in the schoolhouse on West Main 
Street April i6, 1838, for the purpose of organizing a Pres- 
byterian Church in Rushford. Those present from out of 
town were the Rev. Lemual Hall of Centerville, the Rev. 
A. S. Allen of Cuba, the Rev. Phineas Smith of Portage- 
ville, and James R. Bell and James Simons, elders of the 
Presbyterian Church in New Hudson. The church was or- 
ganized with nineteen members : Eneas Gary, Esther Gary, 
Earl Baird, Ruth Baird, Joel Griffin, Clarissa Griffin, Sub- 
mit Griffin, Sarah ^IcDonald, Warren McKinney, Betsy Mc- 
Kinney, Alvin Congdon, Rowena Congdon, Lyman Congdon, 
Fanny Morrison, Rosina McCall, Alfred Bell, Juliette Bell, 
Huldah McCall and Electa AIcKinney. Alfred Bell was 
chosen clerk, and Earl Baird, Joel Griffin and Lyman 
Congdon elders. A resolution was passed favoring temper- 
ance ; and a committee was appointed to secure a minister 
for each communion, and to raise funds to defray expenses. 
The church was received under the care of the Presby- 
tery of Angelica, April 17, 1838. The Rev. Royal Twitchell, 
the first pastor, officiated under the patronage of the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society. 

In 1842, a church valued at $2,000, with a seating ca- 

232 



The Presl)yterian Church 

])acitv of about 300, was built on Main Street nearly oppo- 
site, tbe Metbodist Episcopal Cburcb. In tbe interior two 
doors opened fron: tbe ball into tbe body of tbe cburcb. 
Tbe bigb pulpit was placed between tbe doors, and across 
tbe opposite end of tbe room was a narrow, enclosed plat- 
form for tbe cboir. Tbe square-looking pews witb numbers 
on tbe doors were so arranged tbat tbe congregation was 
able to see tbose entering witbout turning tbeir beads. 

Tbe first pastor in tbe new cburcb was tbe Rev. C. W. 
Gillan. a man mucb beloved. It was in 1843, during bis 
pastorate, tbat a revival occurred resulting in tbe "bopeful 
conversion of about forty individuals." Many were tben 
added to tbe cburcb, some of whom in later years became 
belpful members of Presbyterian cburcbes elsewbere. Tbe 
following invitation will be of interest to some readers : 
"Mr. O. Board and lady are respectfully invited to attend a 
Donation Party at tbe residence of the Rev. C. W. Gillan 
on the afternoon and evening of Thursday, tbe i8th Inst. 

Managers. 



Joel Griffin 
G. Leavens 
Wm. B. Alley 
O. M'Kinney 
S. F. Dickenson 
Wm. M'Call 
G. L. Walker 



Geo. Green 

A. S. Barnum 

Nelson McCall 

Sam'l Blanchard 

Daniel Leavens 

Wm. Woodworth 

Samuel Gordon 



Rushford, May nth, 1843." 
"Father" Hammond, one of God's saints upon earth, 
though be could not hear tbe sermon, was always in his 
pew on tbe Lord's day. By watching the lips of the preacher, 
be was able to tell the text. This he meditated upon during 
the preaching of tbe Word. When the service was endeci, 



233 



The Churches 

the Rev. Mr. Gillan would hand him the written sermon 
to peruse. At the mid-week service, when "Father" Ham- 
mond lifted up his voice in prayer, it seemed as if 

"Heaven came down his soul to greet 
And glory crowned the mercy seat." 

When the time for testimony came, "Uncle Joel" always 
"did his duty" in a peculiar though not unpleasant voice. 
He loved to sing that sweet old hymn, "Naomi," and scarcely 
a prayer meeting was allowed to pass without his starting 
"Father, whate'er of earthly bliss thy sovereign will deny." 

The choir of the church was considered excellent. Titus 
Bartlett, Norman Beecher and Allen George, at different 
times, with the aid of a tuning fork, led the singing. Other 
singers were Mrs. Matilda Gordon Green, Mrs. Caroline 
Brooks Allen and Mrs. Hitchcock, a sister of Joel Griffin. 

In 1846 the church membership was 116, having in- 
creased 88 in six years. Mrs. Achsah Griffin Cham- 
plain said that in 1848 the church was flourishing, and was 
attended by many of the prominent people in the town. The 
Rev. Samuel A. Rawson was then the pastor. He was fol- 
lowed by the Rev. Mr. Doolittle who agreed with the Apos- 
tle Paul that women should keep silent in the churches, so 
for a period their voices were heard only in song. Other 
pastors were the Rev. Messrs. Miller, Henry, Johnson, 
Lane, Frost, Ballard, Cofrin, Lane, Spencer, Ward, Wat- 
kins and Cone. The Rev. Mr. Cone served the church in 
1889-90. 

In 1853 the church became Congregational, but in 1867 
it returned to the Presbyterian fold. 

At one time the ladies of the congregation to improve 
their finances served public dinner in the old store in the 
Adams Block. One of the ladies when searching for her 

234 



The Wesleyan l^Iethodist Church 

belongings asked if any of the gang knew where they were. 
"Gang!" said Mrs. PhiHnda Brooks, "in other churches it 
is brother and sister but here it is 'gang.' " 

When the church was unable to support a pastor, Mrs. 
Cynthia Woodworth by reading the sermons of eminent 
preachers held the congregation together. The church was 
declared extinct in 1897. When the building was offered 
for sale, one of the sisters to whom it was very dear, bought 
it; but later it was purchased by a stock company and given 
the name Agricultural Hall. The pews were sold. The 
steeple and upper half of the blinds have been removed, but 
it is still white, with green blinds. It is used as a meeting 
place for various orders, for social gatherings of different 
organizations, for a town hall and as a gathering place for 
the discussion of matters of interest to the farmer. 

(The Father Hammond referred to in the foregoing 
paper was the father of S. Y. Hammond who was once a 
member of the Genesee Conference. When S. Y. Ham- 
mond lived in Rushford, he was a carpenter. He helped 
build for Israel Thompson the house on Main Street now 
owned by Miss Julia Thompson.) 



THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH 
H. J. W. G. 

THE Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America was 
organized at Utica, N. Y., May 31, 1843. Opposition 
to slavery was a principal cause of its organization. Prob- 
ably within a year after the meeting at Utica. the Rev. P. 
Norris came to Rushford and held meetings in the Podonque 
schoolhouse which resulted in the organization of a Wes- 
leyan Methodist Church. Among the first members were 

235 



The Churches 

the Rev. Daniel Woods and wife and daughter Laura Cor- 
nelia (Mrs. Edwin R. Weaver), Lyman Hubbard and wife, 
Randolph Heald and wife, and David Kinney and wife. 
Early preachers were F. R. Martin, S. Phinney, Z. T. Petty 
and Alanson Bixby. At one time the circuit consisted of 
East Rushford, Higgins, Caldwells and South Hill; now 
there are only two places in the appointment — Rush Creek 
and P)ellville, New Hudson. The church was much weak- 
ened by the Civil War; but after some years it took on new 
life. The parsonage is at East Rushford but there never 
was a church edifice there, the meetings being held in the 
schoolhouse. The church at Bellville was built in 1901 when 
the Rev. G. W. Sibley was pastor and that at Rush Creek 
in 1903 when the Rev. G. O. Bruce was pastor. Clair Baker 
of Marshall is the Sunday School superintendent, and Clair 
Baker, Colonel Baker and Howard Luce are the trustees of 
the church on Rush Creek. The membership of this church 
is only eighteen, but the blessing of fellowship, the out- 
growth of spirituality, prevails. 

(Much of the matter for this paper was furnished by 
the present pastor, the Rev. J. F. Wright. — H. J. W. G.) 



T 



THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH 

Ellen Green Nye 

HE first I remember of the Universalist Church is at- 
tending a meeting with my mother and father in the 
old district schoolhouse which stood opposite my present 
residence on West Main Street. I could not have been more 
than three years old but it was made very impressive by my 
being taken home and punished for unchurchly behavior. 
It must have been about 1846. Elder Hunt was then the 

236 



The Universal! st Church 

pastor and the parsonage was the house now owned by 
WilHam Beaumont. Soon after this the UniversaHst Church 
was built. A goodh^ number of people attended that church 
and good work was done. The preachers who ministered 

to them at dififerent times were Nathaniel Stacy, 

Hunt, J. B. Saxe, J. J. Brayton, J. Whitney, I. B. Sharp 
and ^\'m. Gowdy. Some of them preached the second term. 
Elder Whitney built the house that N. J. Gilbert now owns. 
A daguerrean shop which he built on the same lot was moved 
across the street and used by Edward Brooks as a shoe shop. 
Those who were prominent in building up the church were 
Isaiah Lathrop, Galusha Leavens, Charles Colburn, James 
Green, Alpheus Howser, Samuel White, Luther Wood- 
worth, Emerson Kendall, Oliver Benjamin, E. P. Richards, 
David Board, Holton Colburn, Ira Bishop, the Bannisters 
and Jonathan Charles. They took great pride in their choir 
which was called the best in town. Barnes Blanchard played 
the bass viol, Grover Leavens the violin, someone else played 
the flute, and Marion Angel the melodeon. Later players on 
the melodeon were Amelia Bannister, Georgia Woodworth, 
Ellen Lathrop and Albert Bishop. Hollister Chapin led the 
choir. Instrumental music was not very popular in some 
of the other churches at that time and their members thought 
that the Universalists were surely going to be lost. 

The Sabbath School was held in the gallery over the 
pulpit. The only superintendent I remember is Galusha 
Leavens. His wife and Mrs. Howser were teachers. I 
was in Mrs. Howser's class ; she was much loved as a teacher. 
They had a fine Sabbath School library. I do not remember 
ever taking out a book that was not interesting. We each 
had a little Testament and learned chapter after chapter 
and repeated them by rote. Sometimes I thought it was 
not very interesting and was too much work. 

237 



The Churches 

(I am indebted to Miss Gratie Colburn for the follow- 
ing.) On Christmas eve about the year 1850 there was an 
entertainment given that would hold an honorable place be- 
side those of today. The church was trimmed with green 
and across the center of each window was a row of lighted 
candles. Invisibly suspended was a snow white dove with 
out-spread wings about to alight on the altar. In the dis- 
tance amidst the green was the star that led the Wise Men 
across the plains. The heavenly-loaded branches of the 
Christmas tree hung low over the orchestra rail. These 
with music, recitations and interchange of friendly greetings 
made the evening one long to be remembered. 

The Sewing Society was well attended. There were 
many men in town learning trades and working in the man- 
ufactories. Being away from home, they would hire the 
society to do sewing for them. The money was used to 
carry on the work of the church. The socials were very 
pleasant and large numbers attended. The association was 
held here occasionally. Ministers and delegates came from 
other towns so the meetings were interesting and profitable. 
The ITniversalists met with a good deal of opposition from 
the other churches and this spirit affected the children. It 
was well the children of the Universalists had so much con- 
fidence in their parents, else their lives would sometimes 
have been very sad. Other children when angry would say, 
"You believe everybody is going to be saved, and you'll go 
to the bad place and burn and burn forever." The Univer- 
salist children would go home and tell their parents who 
would say, "Don't worry about the forever, God will take 
care of that. You must watch out for the bad places here." 
There was not so much said about the "Fatherhood of 
God and the Brotherhood of Man" as now, but when times 
of great emergency or trouble came, they forgot all about 

238 



The Free Methodist Church 

creed and sect and arose as one man and worked in the 
spirit of Christ. The questions of Woman's Rights and 
Spiritualism came up and caused a division in the church. 
Services were held occasionally after this. Wm. Gowdy 
was the last minister. The church edifice was sold to the 
Free Methodists in 1873. 

THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH 
FI. J. W. G. 
N November, i860, the Genesee Conference of the Free 



I 



Metholist Church was organized by the Rev. B. T. Rob- 
erts. Five preachers were members of this conference in 
full connection ; among them was the Rev. Wm. Manning to 
whom was assigned the Rushford circuit. Soon after the 
conference there was formed in Rushford a society consisting 
of the following members : Robert English, Frances English, 
Charles English, Levi Metcalf, Cornelia Metcalf, Elijah Met- 
calf, Jr., Salome Metcalf, Rachel Metcalf, George Worth- 
ington, Levanche Van Dusen, Ophelia Van Dusen, Rufus 
Adams, Saphronia Gordon, Wilson Gordon, Maria Benja- 
min, Harry Howe, Elvira Howe and Harris Gilbert. Meet- 
ings, however, had been held two years previous to the or- 
ganization, under the direction of the Rev. J. W. Reddy. 

Classes were soon formed at Belfast, Caneadea, Case- 
ville, Gowanda and other places ; these together with the 
class at Rushford formed the Rushford circuit. 

The first trustees of the Rushford church were Harry 
Howe, Wilson Gordon, Robert English, Harris Gilbert and 
Levi Metcalf. 

Their first meeting-house, purchased in 1861, was the 
old Methodist Episcopal Church, which had been moved 
down the street ; it was the second building below the Acad- 

239 



The Churches 

emv. Here they worshipped until the building was burned 
in 1864; then they rented the Presbyterian Church for a 
time. Their present place of worship is the old Universal- 
ist Church which, after occupying several years, they pur- 
chased, repaired, and dedicated in 1873. The church has 
recently (1910) been undergoing extensive repairs. 

List of pastors: 
i860— Wm. Manning 1885— M. H. Monroe 

1862-3— A. F. Curry* 1886-7— M. E. Browne* 

1864— F. J. Ewell* 1888-9— T. S. Slocum 

J865-6— O. O. Bacon* 1890-1-2— Noah Palmer* 

1867-8— Wm. Jackson 1893-4— H. W. Rowley 

1868-9— Wm. Jones* 1895-6— G. D. Mark 

1870- 1— I. C. White* 1897 — Supplied by G. D. 

1872-3— T. B. Catton* Mark 

1874— M. H. Monroe 1898-9- 1900 — J. H. Wheeler 

1875-6 — John Robinson* 190T — J. E. Tiffany 

1877-8 — A. A. Burgess 1902-3-4 — N. B. Martin 

1879-80 — A. H. Bennett 1905-6 — J. H. Harmon 

1881— M. C. Burritt 1907— C. L. Wright 

1882 — L. D. Perkins 1908-9-10 — Charles E. Pike 

1883-4 — C. C. Eggleston* 

Three Annual Conferences have been held in Rush ford, 
the first during the pastorate of the Rev. A. H. Bennett, 
the second during that of the Rev. G. D. Mark, the third 
during that of the Rev. N. B. Martin. When the Rev. J. 
H. Harmon became pastor the Rushford and Rockville 
churches which formed one appointment, were each fur- 
nished with a preacher. Rushford is now a separate appoint- 
ment. The services held each vSunday are the Sunday 
School, Grant C. Woods superintendent; morning preach- 
ing service ; class meeting ; and evening preaching service. 

*Deceased. 

240 



Roman Catholic Church 

The mid-week prayer meeting is held Thursday evening. 
Mrs. Cornelia IMetcalf, one of the constituent members, is 
a regular attendant at church. 

This church has always emphasized the doctrine of 
sanctification. and simplicity both in dress and church edi- 
fice. The singing, which is purely congregational, is led 
by Grant C. Woods, the human voice alone being used in 
praise. The present membership numbers forty-three. The 
church feel that the blessing of the Lord has been upon 
them. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

There never has been a Catholic Church in Rushford, 
but for a number of years the priest from Belfast cele- 
brated Mass at the home of John Lundrigan, on Lewellen 
Street. 

BEQUESTS OR REQUESTS 
Arlie White Ives 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

1885 — Miss Electa Lamberson $300.00 

1901 — Owen Damon, Kalamazoo, Michigan 500.00 

1902 — Mrs. Myra W^arren Griffith 100.00 

1906 — Mrs. Mary Thompson Gordon 100.00 

1906 — Charles H. Ives, pews for the church, cost. . 800.00 

FREE METHODIST CHURCH. 

1900 — Miss Laura Woods $120.00 

BAPTIST CHURCH. 

1897 — Miss Sylvia Rice $ 50.00 

1900 — D. Dodge Persons 100.00 

1910 — Daniel B. Sill $1,000.00 

241 

16 



The Churches 

Cemeteries. 

RUSH FORD CEMETERY. 

1906 — Frank Wayland Higgins $500.00 

hardy's corners cemetery. 
1889— Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Richards $100.00 




William H. Thomas 



'Courtesy of W. F. Benjamin. 



242 



V 

THE SCHOOLS 
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS 

Ellen L}-man 

SOME one has well said that the early settlers of a local- 
ity have a far-reaching influence on the growth and 
prosperity of the community ; they sow the seeds of their 
characteristics, which are just as sure to grow and produce 
after their kind as the corn and potatoes they plant. 

Our schools are the result of good ancestral blood, for 
the early settlers, nine-tenths of whom were of sturdy New 
England stock, though struggling in a half-cleared wilder- 
ness with debt and heavy taxes to open roads, resolved, 
come wdiat might, that education should not be neglected, 
therefore they prepared to build schoolhouses. 

The town was organized in 1816, and in 1818, they 
voted fifty dollars, in 1819. sixty dollars and sixty-six cents, 
in 1821, this is the record : "Resolved, That the town raise 
school money to the extent of the law" — a remarkable reso- 
lution, a forecast, the cornerstone of the Rushford Acad- 
emy; this resolution, "to raise money to the extent of the 
law," was not a spasmodic effort, for it was repeated in 
1822, 1823, 1824, 1825; and in 1830 was added the clause, 
"the balance now on hand of poor funds and moneys col- 
lected from strays."^ In 1840 and 1841 it was voted to 
double the amount of school money, so taxation for edu- 
cation kept pace with increasing population and prosperity. 

School districts were formed as rapidly as there seemed 
to be a need and the residents of the new district could get 

243 



The Schools 

enough money to send their children even a part of the 
time, for in those early days tuition was paid according to 
the number of days each child attended. If the head of 
the family found it out of the question to raise the money 
required, the children must remain at home, no matter how 
much they desired to go ; sometimes means could be ob- 
tained to send one or more, then they would help the 
younger ones in the evening. 

Schools were held in the rooms of private houses until 
such a time as the settlers could cut and prepare logs for 
the building, the furnishings of which consisted of a chair 
for the teacher, and seats made of slabs of wood with 
round sticks cut from saplings for legs, for the children. 
On these, too high for the feet of the little ones to reach 
the floor, they must sit bolt upright, and woe betide the 
unlucky urchin that was caught turning around. 

The schoolhouses in the village districts were situated, 
one on West Main Street, nearly opposite the residence of 
Mrs. Ellen Nye; the other at the foot of the hill on the 
road to Gordonville, nearly opposite the old home of John 
Robinson. A few of the early teachers were Wm. B. Alley, 
D. D. Persons, Monroe Washburn, Cynthia Brooks Wood- 
worth, Aurora Thompson Green, Avery Washburn, Miranda 
Knickerbocker and Martha Woodworth Howser. Later 
teachers in the east district were Emma Claus Woods, Ira 
Crawford, Asa Burleson and Lucian L. Benjamin. 

As early as 1849 there seemed to be a growing demand 
for an institution where the young men and women of the 
town could obtain a higher education than that furnished 
by the common schools, and the community as a whole 
seemed to think there could be no better paying investment 
than to establish such a school; accordingly sufficient funds 
were raised by subscription to erect, in 1851, the building 

244 



History of the Schools 

now used by the High School. The next spring the school 
was opened with the following board of trustees : 

B. T. Hapgood Israel Thompson 

Wm. Merrifield James Gordon, 2nd 

Washington White Charles Benjamin 

Oliver D. Benjamin John Holmes 

Titus Bartlett Robert Norton 

Isaac Stone Samson Hardy 

J. G. Osborne William Gordon 
Alonzo H. Damon 

Many others were prominent in petitioning for the 
school, among them Isaiah Lathrop. presiding officer at 
the preliminary meetings, and Dr. Wm. McCall, later sec- 
retary of the board of trustees. 

The first board of instruction consisted of — 

Ira Sayles, A. M Principal 

W. W. Bean Male Assistant 

Miss Frances Post Female Assistant 

Mrs. S. C. Sayles Assistant in French 

Miss Aurora Bailey Assistant in Music 

Miss M. B. B. Sayles Primary 

As this was one of the first schools for higher education 
in this part of the State, many students came from other 
towns. The towns represented were Hume, Belfast, Cen- 
terville, Angelica, Farmersville, Oramel, Cuba, Pike, Scio, 
Freedom, Hinsdale, New Hudson, Amity, Lyndon, Frank- 
linville, Caneadea, Granger, Portage, Orleans, Holland, Car- 
oline, Groveland, Belvidere, and one each from Steuben. 
Pennsylvania, and New Market, Canada West. The total 
number of pupils was 303 — the majority of whom were eager 
students, entering into their work with zeal. 

Of Prof. Sayles one of his old students writes : "He 

24s 



History of the Schools 

was strict and impartial, always ready to work for the best 
interest of the school and the town, and withal one of the 
most eminent geologists in Western New York." He re- 
mained five years and was succeeded by G. W. T. Buck, 
who was born in Reading, Vermont, but in 1835 came with 
his parents to Granger in this county. Prof. Buck is remem- 
bered with respect and affection. He inspired his students 
with the belief that he was able to answer correctly any ques- 
tion that might be asked ; and he was one of the best of 
teachers in the sciences. One of his assistants was G. H. 
Albee, later principal of the Normal School at Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin. 

During this period the course of study for graduation 
was equal to that of the first two years in any college of 
the State. The graduates, as far as ascertained, were Syl- 
via Baker, M. Antoinette Kendall, Ruthem Smith, O. S. 
Vreeland, Eugene Hammond, Hiram M. Walker, Robert 
Crawford, William Crawford, Hiram A. Coats, Latham 
Higgins, M. C. Bissel. L. A. Stevens, H. C. Williams, H. W. 
Spear F. E. Woods, Ellen Lathrop and Albertine Buck. 
The last nine were in the class of i860. Prof. Buck was 
followed by J. E. Mchityre. 

In 1866 the residents of the two village districts began 
to be agitated over a prospect to unite and organize a Union 
Free School according to the law passed in 1864. as amended 
in 1865. Consent having been obtained from the State 
authorities, a call was issued for consolidation, and in an- 
swer to this, the trustees appointed the twenty-seventh day 
of August, 1866, as the time of meeting. A majority de- 
cided in the affirmative, and a committee of five — A. T. 
Cole, O. T. Stacy, C. W. Wood worth, J. G. Osborne and 
James Gordon, 2nd — was appointed by the chairman to 
select a board of education. The committee recommended 

247 



The Schools 

O. T. Higgins, O. T. Stacy, J. P. Bixby, C. J. Elmer, Stan- 
bury Gordon and Wolcott Griffin. They were duly elected. 

In 1867 Ira Sayles was again engaged as chief in- 
structor; he remained until 1870, when he left to make a 
home in Virginia. 

The following is a list of the principals since the or- 
ganization of the Union Graded Free School : 

Ira Sayles 1867 Edward Maguire 1887 

A. J. Crandall 1870 William C. White 1893 

Dana Jenison 1871 H. J. Walter 1894 

William Goodell 1873 Joseph Howerth 1896 

W. W. Bean Nov.. 1874 H. W. Harris 1897 

Frank J. Diamond 1876 S. K. Brecht 1899 

M. L. Spooner 1877 Frederick Leighton. . . . 1901 

H. J. Van Norman 1880 W. Eugene Powell 1904 

J. M. McKee 1882 Gray M. Moreland 1906 

W. D. Moulton 1885 Howard F. Brooks 1907 

W. H. Wilson 1885 Lester C. Sterner 1908 

In 1909 the Union School became a Fligh School. There 
have been one hundred and nine graduates. The class of 
'88 was the first and consisted of one member, Cornelia 
Weaver. 



SCHOOL REMINISCENCES OF V. R. GILLETTE 
Ellen Lyman 

AMONG the reminiscences given on School Day of Old 
Home Week were those of Dr. V. R. Gillette of Erie, 
Pennsylvania, a man of eighty, with the heart of a boy. 

lie told of his mastery of Colburn's "Mental Arithme- 
tic" before being allowed to use slate and pencil, of his 

248 



School Reminiscences 

asking the teacher, Mr. Thomas Gordon, what he would 
give him to do the work in the higher book without as- 
sistance. Mr. Gordon laughed at the idea, but said "ten 
cents," and he went to work, without thought of the re- 
ward, to see what he could do. In those days one had to 
sit with his back to the rest of the school in order to use the 
desk, and he became so absorbed in his work that he was 
not aware of anything that was passing in the school-room; 
he earned his ten cents, and then took up algebra. His 
method was to keep on striving until success crowned his 
efforts, and not give up and fly to the teacher at the first 
failure. 

When he was sixteen he began teaching at ten dollars 
a month, boarding around. He had heard that there were 
two boys belonging to the school who had twice succeeded 
in ousting the master, but he was young and believed that 
kindness would conquer. For several days all went well, 
but when sliding down hill began, these two boys would 
deliberately slide down once more after the call of the bell ; 
he remonstrated with them, to no effect; this continued 
about a week, then he decided to try "Dr. Beech ;" accord- 
ingly he cut two swamp beech whips, toughened them in 
the ashes and was ready for them. When they came in at 
noon, he told them he would now settle with them. He had 
taken the precaution to place within easy reach a six-foot 
iron poker, so they knew he meant business ; they were so 
taken by surprise that they offered no resistance. He used 
up his whips, and the boys declared they would give him no 
farther trouble ; they kept their word and all went well. This 
was the only time he ever had to use the rod to conquer. 

His next school was in the Bannister, Ackerly and 
Wheeler district. Two of his former pupils, Andrew Ack- 
erly, aged seventy-nine, and Horace Ackerly, aged seventy- 

249 



The Schools 

seven, also Parker Woodworth, aged eighty-six, who had 
attended school in this district, were sitting upon the ros- 
trum. "Boys," said Dr. Gillette, "stand up;" then he said 
that so far as he knew there was only one other of his pupils 
living and that was Albert Bannister of Pasadena, Cali- 
fornia. 

He told of the boarding around, of the log houses and 
of waking many mornings to find the bed covered with 
snow, but at night the good woman of the house would 
warm the bed with a warming-pan. 

He said those were days of large schools — sometimes 
seventy pupils — and numberless things were required of a 
teacher that we never hear of now, such as making and 
mending quill pens and writing copies. One great advan- 
tage found in boarding around was making the acquaintance 
of the families. He often gained an insight into the char- 
acters of the pupils, as well as of their parents, which could 
have been obtained in no other way and which proved in- 
valuable in his work as a teacher. 

Note — Dr. Gillette prefaced his remarks School Day with 
"You'd scarce expect one of my age 
To speak in public on the stage." 



SCHOOL REMINISCENCES 
W. F. Bement 

I well remember the discussions pro and con in regard to 
the building and equipment of the old Rushford Acad- 
emy, which was a most important event in the history of 
the town ; I was there in person ; I heard the plans for the 
enterprise previously discussed by the people of the town ; 
I saw the frame-work of the building raised, and attended 

250 



School Reminiscences 

its first term of school. There was a goodly number of 
pupils from the town, and also many from adjoining towns; 
it was a good beginning, and as time passed on the number 
increased. During my attendance, changes were made in 
assistant teachers, but Prof. Sayles remained in full pos- 
session, and a better and more competent man it would have 
been difficult to find. 

It is a pleasure to think over the names of those who 
attended during the various terms ; I was not aware that 
I could recall so many. I give them as they occur to my 
memory: Copeland Gordon, Wesley Gordon, Hiram Gil- 
bert and sister, John B. Stewart, Albert A. Abbott, Orville 
and Abbie Abbott, A. L. Aldrich, Emily Grimard, Helen 
Doland, Ellen and Stellah White, Edwan A. Bartlett, Frank, 
Emma and Julia Thompson, Frank and Mary McCall, Mary 
Allen, Ellen Osborne, Sardis Rawson, Helen and James 
Merryfield, America, Julia and Ellen Lathrop, Jennie Lan- 
ing, Antoinette Kendall, Latham Higgins, Laura and Mar- 
tha Higgins, O. T. Stacy. Mary, Ellen and Jennie Stacy, 
Miriam Kyes and brother, Sylvia Baker and sister, Tilden 
Hopkins, Michael Hanks, Grace and Katie Hoyt, Charles 
and Amelia Burr, Jane, Mariette and Jonas Hammond, Mr. 
Pierson, Helen Byrnes, Henry M. and Willard Teller, Mr. 
Weaver, Webster and Asa Hardy, Lois Bell. Debias and 
William LL Worthington, W. F. and Frank Woods, Mur- 
ray Blanchard, Albert Bishop and sister, Solomon R. Seeley 
and sister, Ensworth McKinney, Nathan Lyman, James 
Spofiford, Orra Morris, Delos Graves, Harriett Cummings, 
Clinton and H. G. Bond. C. W. and Frank Saunders, 
Wealthy Gleason, Joel G. Morgan, Hiram Coats, Bowen 
Gordon and Peter Mead ; these were among those whom I 
knew during my terms of attendance, and I plainly see 
them as in the days of over fifty years ago. 

251 



The Schools 

Peter Mead, I can't forget Peter and his speech on the 
rostrum at the regular time of our public. He had been 
disturbed in his slumbers some nights previous by a horn- 
ing-bee, and he selected for his subject, on this occasion, 
"The Devil," suggested, no doubt, by an improvised ma- 
chine which the crowd had with them. Peter was preparing 
for the ministry at the time and boarded in the family of the 
Baptist minister. 

Our professor furnished us with lectures on astronomy, 
philosophy, and physiology, and we had our entertainments 
and sociables with an ample supply of eatables, all well 
attended by the public, which resulted in maintaining a 
friendly feeling among the students and interesting the peo- 
ple generally in the welfare of the school. Of the exhibi- 
tions, the one which produced the most lasting impression 
was "Uncle Tom's Cabin," played in the chapel by members 
of the school. Mr. Weaver, a student from Centerville, 
took the part of St. Clair, Lois Bell of Rushford was Topsy, 
and she did it up to the text ; I have the impression that 
Isaac Van Ostrand of Granger did the part of Uncle Tom ; 
he could act almost any part. The chapel was crowded to 
its utmost capacity, people coming from miles around. The 
performers entered heartily into the presentation, and 
although I have witnessed many star performances since 
then, none, in my judgment, equaled the one in the old 
Academy chapel. 

There were many duties, some irksome, for the benefit 
of the students, the hardest, the one most dreaded by many 
and by myself especially, was public declamation. Soon 
after the opening of the first term, the order came to be 
prepared on a certain day with a selection to declaim ; of 
course orders must be obeyed, so I made my selection and 
repaired to the chapel at the appointed time ; who was to 

252 



Memory Pictures 

go first, no one knew ; all assembled waiting for orders. 
Professor first gave preliminary instruction in relation to 
manner, position and gestures, then called upon Bowen Gor- 
don. The question in my mind was, who next? I kept 
my eyes on Bowen that I might learn how to maneuver. He 
walked upon the stage and presented a bold front — so far, 
so good ; I could do that ; he began his oration — I do not 
know what he said, but very soon, he turned about and 
looked out of the window, which did not seem to be in 
accordance with preliminary instructions ; but while I was 
looking and taking in the situation, Bowen moved quietly 
to his seat in the audience; then, all at once, and to my ut- 
most consternation, my name was called — I obeyed — walked 
onto the stage, and when I right-faced that audience of 
my fellow students, it seemed as if their numbers had in- 
creased a hundred fold. I had a short speech of two verses, 
and whether I whispered or yelled I know not, but I stopped 
at the end of the first one, and exerted myself to retire in 
the proper manner from the platform. Bowen told me after- 
wards that if the window had been raised, and the distance 
not so far to the earth, he believed he would have jumped 
out. He may not approve of my telling this, but it hits him 
no harder than it does me, and I speak of it to show that 
what the pupil looks upon as a great burden may prove to 
be for his good, as it did for us. 

MEMORY PICTURES 
Sarah Ford Crosby 

IT goes without saying we're glad we are here ; 
We'll ask time to turn backward for forty odd years 
And paint us some pictures that will drive away tears. 
What object is that, on the street, that we see? 

253 



The Schools 

It's coming this way! Is it an animated tepee? 

You must be a stranger— its Miss Ford and her cloak 

That the ladies presented, out to walk with her flock. 

As many as can, have a hand on the border, 

And a score or less primaries are all under cover. 

There's one holds her hand that has marvelous eyes ; 

For Frank, the years held the State's highest prize. 

There sits Professor Mclntyre— seen dimly perhaps. 

For he had the fever and then a relapse. 

Miss Campbell came later, when the preachers grew tired, 

To help with the Latin and what else was required. 

And when the fever laid Professor aside. 

And between those two rooms I, myself, did divide. 

With the help of the pastors, we carried them through 

And marked them all perfect.— Didn't they whisper? A few. 

Do you think that those boys and those girls in their teens 

Found nothing to study, but on program was seen ? 

They were as wise as the birds in the trees, 

"And became of each other, devout devotees." 

And though I talked long and explained without measure, 

Some failed to appropriate "cube root" as their treasure. 

Hattie Stebbins* and Norton still laugh at the way 

They let Cupid trick them in that far-away day. 

Was I proud of my classes? Proud of them? Quite. 

Especially German, with Mary Lathrop and Viola White.f 

Professor Sayles and wife came, as they said they would 

come, 
And took up the work, years before they'd begun. 
Misses Lyman and Freeman — always nice and trim, 

*Hattie Stebbins (Mrs. Henry Norton of Hinsdale, N. Y.), 
daughter of H. K. Stebbins. 

tViola White (Mrs. Harlan P. Hopkins of Bradford, Illinois), 
daughter of Washington White. 

254 



Memory Pictures 

Miss Thompson's skilled fingers to music the hymn. 
By their side is your servant — ^but she's not aware 
That she's hastened to school without her back hair. 
Straight oversight, for the waterfalls we once wore 
Much resembled the pack Bunyan's Pilgrim once bore. 
"This shrivelled old woman — shrunk away in her wear" 
Was more than forty years younger when she sat in that 

chair, 
And who will now say. she was never that fair? 
The faculty is competent — that picture complete. 
We'll now strike the bell and fill every seat. 
Here are the boys and the girls we all know, 
A hundred are seated there, row after row. 
Adams and Ackerly was the way they began, 
And all your best names down the alphabet ran. 
I'd tell all their names if you'd give me time, 
But I've less than five minutes to jingle this rhyme. 
How did we manage them? We had but one rule. 
They managed themselves, for love ruled the school. 
All decorous and studious, — submitting to spell 
Though they knew every word, as Sarah Mason can tell. 
And after ten years had in history occurred 
They wrote me some letters, never missing a word. 
The conspicuous absence of gum-chewing today 
Is the result of that gum-class that's so far away. 
And the exhibitions, at closing, were a flourish so grand, 
No wonder our pupils are the pride of the land. 
There's the doctor and lawyer and merchant and priest 
And farmer and orator and gubernatorial chief. 
Let Rush ford recount all her products — the completest 
Will be boys and girls, then, now, and forever, the sweetest. 
Tell all of her goodies — even her maple molasses 
Can never compare with her lads and her lassies. 

255 



The Schools 

And of all the dear, old pictures that hang on memory's 

wall, 
Rushford and Rushford Academy are among the dearest of 

them all. 



SONG 

THE following lines were written by Miss E. L. Stone, 
the first teacher in the intermediate department after 
the organization of the Rushford Union Graded Free School. 
The lines were vigorously sung by the pupils of the depart- 
ment : 

We're a band of merry schoolmates, 
And we love to go to school. 
Education is our motto ! 
And our names to you we'll sing: 

Willie Leavens, Freddie Stebbins,' 
With his little brother Charlie, 
Merlie Sayles- and Charlie Chadwick,^ 
With our studious Eddie Rice,^ 

Nellie Bell and Mary Brua,5 
Mary Rutts^ and Blanchie Bixby,7 
Clara George and Ella Eaton,* 
With our blue-eyed Jennie Woods, 

1 Son of H. K. Stebbi'ns. 

2 Son of Professor Tra Sayles. 

3 Son of Arlington Chadwick. 

4 Son of the Rev. M. H. Rice. 

5 Mrs. Frank J. Diamond, of New Haven, Conn., daughter of 
Mrs. Lrcretia Morse. 

6 ATrs. W. W. Kimball, of Binghamton, daughter of Mrs. Lucy 
Butts. 

7 Mrs. Seward Mulliken. 

8 Mrs. Julian Robinson, of Belmont, daughter of Aaron Eaton. 

256 



Song- 
Emma Cole,9 her brother Elbert, 
Frank Beaumont'° and Freddie Gordon, 
Chester Hyde and Ralphie Laning, 
With our singing Ciracie Rood," 

Then comes Albert and Wilbur Freeman 
With our laughing Frankie Higgins, 
Mary Cole,'^ Viroqua Aiken,'3 
And our merry Libbie too,'^ 

Helen White, her sister Ida,'5 
With two cousins, May'^ and Jessie,'? 
AHce Barras,'8, Bennie Baldvvin,'9 
With our sprightly Truman Wier,^o 

Also black-eyed Ida Bresler,-' 
With two brothers, Frank and Freddie, 
Charlie White-'^ and Robert Hancock,23 
^^'ith our roguish Charlie Mack.^^ 

9 Daughter of the Rev. A. T. Cole 

10 Son of John Beaumont. 

L. A. RoodTa^'mS^hrnf "^- °' ''^'^ ^'^^^ ^'''' ^tah, daughter of 
Cole. " ^^''' ^^- ^'°"^'"' °^ ^^'"''"'■- ^'^'■' daughter of Mrs. Aldula 

11 ? -ft- ^^^c'^'"u ^^^'^/ daughter of Mrs. Henry Elmer 
senger oVcuba '^ ^'^^'^ Higgins), Mrs. John Kis- 

I'e aJ''- Pv^V\Y°°ds, daughter of H. K. White. 
r, T^T T ■ ^; Colburn, daughter of Washington White 
of Quincy WWte ^^^"^'^^'•^- °^ B''^' Wyoming County, daughter 

'8 Mrs. B. D. Kyes, daughter of C. H. Barras 

'9 bon of Benjamin Baldwin 

20 Son of Alfred Wier. 

-I Mrs. Chamberlain, daughter of George Bresler 

22 Son of Luther K. White. 

23 Son of Tohn Hancock, of Centerville 

24 Son of Charles McMullen. 

257 



The Schools 

Rosy Nellie, Charlie's sister, 
Who sometimes forgets and whispers, 
Ruthie Hall ^s and Ida Morrow, 
And our honest Frankie Woods, 

Nelia Lewis,^^ sister Nettie.^/ 
Addie Rice and Charlie Pelton,^^ 
All have plucked the tree of knowledge 
And eat its golden fruit. 



THE FIRST PHILOMATHEAN SOCIETY 
W. F. Bement 

NOT long after the opening of the Rushford Academy 
the young men began to think of organizing a literary 
society. It was of slow growth, but one was started, and ex- 
isted under different forms and names until finally the name 
Philomathean was adopted. 

The room in the third story of the southeast corner of 
the building, was obtained of the trustees for the use of tlie 
society. Within and with closed doors, the constitution was 
formed and after much discussion upon the different clauses 
therein contained, adopted and signed by the members who 
were active in promoting it. Charles W. Saunders was the 
first president, and Joel G. Morgan the first secretary of the 
society. 

A fund was raised to furnish the room with carpet, 
chairs, settees, tables, lamps and chandeliers. 

Regular meetings were held once a week, and public dis- 

25 Mrs. Southworth, daughter of Orsavilla Hall. 

26 Mrs. Charles Tuller, daughter of Samuel Lewis. 

27 Mrs. Alex Conway. 

28 Son of George Pelton. 

2.^8 



First Philoinatliean Society 

cussions were held in the chapel at appointed times, two 
members who chose their own subject and had two weeks 
for preparation, being chosen to represent the society. The 
society also maintained a course of lectures, which were open 
to the public, given by such men as Horace Mann, Dr. E. 
H. Chapin, Henry Ward Beecher, Horace Greeley, Fred- 
erick Douglas, and Josh Billings. These speakers required 
large pay, but they drew so large audiences that expenses 
were paid and a surplus left in the treasury, by which the 
society was enabled to maintain itself on a respectable 
footing. 

The "fifties" were years of political unrest both in Eu- 
rope and America, and the questions which agitated these 
continents were discussed within the hall of the Philoma- 
theans ; but none so completely engrossed their time and 
attention as the attempt to extend the system of slavery. 
They not only demonstrated that they were "lovers of learn- 
ing" but lovers of liberaty as well, and many of them in 
in the Civil War that followed gave their time, blood and 
lives in defence of their principles. John B. Stewart, dur- 
ing the Kansas trouble, went from the school to that terri- 
tory and was killed by Ouantrell and his gang of border 
ruffians. When the news reached home, a meeting was 
held by the society, and throughout the town indignation 
was freely expressed at such lawlessness. 

During the principalship of G. W. F. Buck, the organi- 
zation was in a flourishing condition. At length it adjourned 
sine die; but it was revived in 1874. during the principal- 
ship of W. W. Bean. 



259 



The Schools 
THE MYSTIC ASSOCIATION OF RUSHFORD 

ACADEMY 

E. L. and H. J. W. G. 

SINCE the opening of the Rushford Academy, there had 
been a literary society for young men but none for 
young women until the winter of 1858-9, when such a 
society was organized, the object of which was "the improve- 
ment in taste, eloquence, reading, literature and social im- 
provement." The membership was never numerous, but 
was select and congenial. In the list of members there are 
a few names of persons outside the school, among which is 
that of Mrs. Cynthia Woodworth whom the members styled 
the "arbiter elegantum." Among the honorary members were 
Grace Greenwood (Mrs. Lippincott), Fanny Fern (Mrs. 
Parton), Mrs. L. H. Sigourney and Cora L. V. Hatch, now 
Mrs. Richmond. Other members, though not all at the 
same time, were Antoinette Kendall, Emily and Lydia 
Bridgeman from Belfast, Airs. Howser, Amelia Burr from 
Farmersville, Ellen Stacy, Eleanor Sessions, America and 
Ellen Lathrop, Albie Buck from Granger, Ann Ellithorpe, 
Amelia Brooks, Olivia Chamberlain, Arcelia Benjamin, Abi- 
gail Sears from Oramel, Ellen Green, Sarah C. Tufts, Liz- 
zie Leavens, Mary J. Day from Lyndon, Louise McKinney, 
Addie Dunn from Black Creek, Sophia Gilbert, Delocia Gil- 
ley, Julia Thompson, Helen Doland, Caroline Blanchard 
from Centerville, Mary Williams, Flora Hammond, Janette 
Hill, Sarah Rockwell, Julia Ely and Viola White. 

There were a few public sessions, but publicity was not 
much desired, more quiet means of culture being in keeping 
with the character of most of the members. In the words 
of their constitution, "They were to hold a public debate 
whenever 'the public spirit moved them.' " In March, 1859, 

260 



The Mystic Association 

a joint public session was held by the Mystic and Philo- 
matheans which was reported in full in the Rushford Weekly 
Nezvs Letter and the following comment made: "It was 
such an entertainment as Prof. Buck may be proud to have 
repeated." The following is the program of another public 
session : 

Program 

Public Session 

of the 

Mystic and Philomathean Societies 

at 

Rushford Academy 

Wednesday Evening, Nov. 21, i860 

"United we stand" 

Order of Exercises. 

Music 

Calling Roll Responding by Sentiments 

Salutatory R. Crawford 

Home and P'oreign Correspondence 
* Music 

Discussion — Resolved, That personal necessity is the great- 
est incentive to literary exertion. Affirmative, Miss C. 
Tufts. Negative, L. Higgins. 

i^ecital Mrs. A. Howser 

Scraps from the Rag Bag 
Music 

Biographer Wm. Crawford 

Poem Miss A. Lathrop 

Oration H. Williams 

Music 

Dramatic Charade 

Dramatis Personae 

Miss Colton Miss E. Sessions 

261 



The Schools 

Pattie ^liss A Ellithrope 

Mr. Mansfield ^- Banfield 

Mr. Mansfield, Jr E. Beecher 

Music 

Tableaux Vivants Twelve Views 

^^aledictory Mrs. C. Woodworth 

Music 
Adjournment 

The following is a report of the secretary, Mrs. Cyn- 
thia Woodworth, dated March i, 1861 : "The Society met 
pursuant to adjournment, at the usual place, that is to say, 
in a commodious but ill-furnished room on the third floor 
of the Rushford Academy and at any hour that suited the 
convenience of individual members, limited only by the clos- 
ing of said session. 

"House called to order by vice president. Roll called 
and nearly half of the members responded by sentiment. 
Report of the preceding meeting, called for by the president 
pro tem and read by the secretary, no doubt met with entire 
disapproval as nothing was said in regard to its adoption 
After some half minute of profound and impressive silence, 
Miss Day read a thrilling page from Cushing's Manual, Miss 
Bissell followed, reading a beautiful selection entitled "Au- 
tumn Memories." Miss Williams then favored the house 
with a few very appropriate excuses for neglecting to write 
an essay. Next in order came the discussion which was 
Very animated and direct to the point, although interrupted 
by the entrance of some of the learned gender. The ques- 
tion, 'Resolved, that this Society ought to be maintained,' 
was decided by the house in the affirmative by the over- 
whelming majority of one, and our noble Mystic band so 
suddenly and so fiercely threatened with inestine war, again 

262 



Second Philomathean Society 

unfurls the banner of peace on earth and good-will to wo- 
men, and all now hug the dear hope that future generations 
will point to the memorable decision of this house on the 
first day of March, i86i, as the one great event that estab- 
lishes her name and fame in all coming time. The pulse of 
the Society again beating quietly and regularly, the re- 
hearsal was called for, but the appointee. Miss Lathrop, 
declaring that she knew nothing, not even Hohenlinden. 
was not urged to 'say something.' The biographer, Miss 
Ellithorpe, plead guilty, but, in place of what should have 
been, read an article from a newspaper; since the secretary 
of this society failed at the time to fully comprehend the 
subject matter and, moreover, having neglected the making 
of this report till the moment it was needed, she must be 
excused from reporting fully under this head, but trusting 
to the known intelligence and good judgment of the lady 
in question, we venture to pronounce it good." 

The remainder of the report consisted of reports of 
committees and appointments. 

"March 20, 1863, a meeting was called in Prof. Buck's 
recitation room for the purpose of re-establishing the weekly 
sessions of the Mystic Association which for reasons grow- 
ing out of the political and social conditions of society had 
been suspended the last eighteen months." 

The Association probably disbanded at the close of the 
school year of 1862-63. 

THE SECOND PHILOMATHEAN SOCIETY 
H. J. W. G. 

SOr^IETIME during the principalship of Prof. Bean the 
boys in the Academic Department wished to form a 
society for the cultivation of their mental powers in a line 
not afforded by the regular school work, so they asked the 

263 



The Schools 

school board the privilege of holding meetings in the old 
Lyceum room. The board fearing that the exercises might 
not be confined to debating and kindred matters were some- 
what reluctant in granting the request, but finally decided 
to allow the boys the use of the room under the condition 
that the members of the faculty be allowed to visit the so- 
ciety whenever they wished. This condition was accepted, 
but it is not recalled that any but the principal ever honored 
them with a visit. 

At a certain session pf the society the debate was upon 
the temperance question. The chief upon one side was 
Frank Babbitt, upon the other Rollin Houghton, who was 
an adept at asking questions. Prof. Bean, who was present, 
was a strong supporter of the temperance cause and seem- 
ingly favored Mr. Houghton's side. He reproved Mr. Bab- 
bitt for not answering Mr. Houghton's questions, saying 
all questions could be answered by yes or no. During his 
talk he used a stock expression of his "I would stake my 
honor upon it." Mr. Babbitt felt the ground slipping from 
beneath his feet, but he rose to the occasion, saying, "Sev- 
eral times this evening our Professor has said that he would 
stake his honor upon it. Now I would like to know what 
the honor of a gambling professor is worth anyway?" Prof. 
Bean commenced to look queer. Turning to him Mr. Bab- 
bitt said, "Can all questions be answered by yes or no?" The 
professor bowed his head. "Then," said Mr. Babbitt, "when 
did you last beat your wife?" Prof. Bean blushed, smiled 
and said nothing, and Mr. Babbitt snatched victory out of 
defeat. ' But he didn't wait that night to walk down the 
street with Prof. Bean, and the next morning it wasn't 
convenient for him to go to chapel, he had business in 
David Sill's jewelry store across the way until all 
were well upstairs, then he slid into the school room. But 

264 



Second Philomatliean Sociel\- 

Prof. Bean never mentioned the subject to him luitil years 
after when he met him on a Pennsylvania railroad train. 

One evening when the society was in session, Frank \\'. 
Higgins, who was in town, was invited to attend and take 
part in the debate. R. ?'>. Laning was present with a pile 
of books from which he frequently read to make more con- 
vincing his arguments. When Mr. Higgins was called 
upon, he rose, saying that he had not prepared himself for 
the debate, that he hadn't consulted any libraries or brought 
any with him. 

Sometime during the organization of the Philomathean 
the Podge of Good Templars disbanded and offered for sale 
their curtains and other stage belongings. At one of the 
regular meetings of the Philomathean, one of the mem- 
bers proposed that the society purchase these effects since 
they were going to give a public entertainment and these 
things could be bought cheap. They would also be helping 
the Good Templars by so doing. 

The proposal did not meet with a very hearty response. 
Mr. Babbitt, rising, said : "Mr. President, I understand 
that the gentleman wishes to purchase these things to help 
the Good Templars, at the same time we are to fleece them 
all we can." 

At one meeting of the society there was a unanimous 
opinion of those present concerning some subject under dis- 
cussion. Mr. Paning then appeared and not being in ac- 
cord with the prevailing sentiment, by persuasion soon 
changed the complexion of the meeting. The feelings of 
those whose complexion did not change need not be de- 
scribed. 

That much benefit was derived from this organization 
of the boys is undoubted. Mistakes in the conduct of the 
primaries in the town, sometimes causing much trouble, 

26=; 



The Schools 

have not been made by those who were once Philomatheans. 
The members as recalled were Ralph B. Laning, Wilham 
H. Benson, Frank Babbitt, RolHn Houghton, Eddy C. Gil- 
bert, Thomas James,, Alex Conway, S. E. Talcott, Alfred 
Green, William Worden, William B. Kivilen, De Forest 
Aiken. Lucian E. Hardy, Frank Beaumont and O. Leslie 
Elliott. 

THE POLYHYMNIAN SOCIETY 
H. J. W. G. 

THE society was organized during the principalship of 
Marvin L. Spooner. One afternoon a paper was cir- 
culated among the pupils of the Academic Department for 
any to sign who would like to join a society for the purpose 
of studying literature, since there was no opportunity for 
such study during school hours. At a preliminary meeting 
held October 3, 1878, the following persons were present: 
Prof. Spooner, H. C. Elmer, O. L. Elliott, D. Callahan, 
H. R. Charles, F. E. White, C. Crowell, H. E. Tarbell, G. D. 
Ryder, E. C. Gilbert, Helen J. White, Jennie Laning, Kate 
Lundrigan, Nellie Persons, Esther Wilmot, Myrtie Nye, 
Vernie Gordon and Ella Farwell. All of these except D. 
Callahan became members. The officers elected were : 

President E. C. Gilbert 

Vice President Helen J. White 

Secretary O. L. Elliott 

Treasurer Jennie Laning 

Corresponding Secretary H. C. Elmer 

Three committees were appointed : 

1. To frame constitution and by-laws, H. C. Elmer, 
O. L. Elliott and Vernie Gordon. 

2. To select reading matter, Prof. Spooner. Helen 
White and H. R. Charles. 

266 



The Polyhymnian Society 
3. For miscellaneous exercises, F. E. White and Myr- 

tie Nye. 

At the first regular session after a "long and earnest 
debate" it was decided that the society should meet every 
Wednesday evening at seven o'clock unless otherwise or- 
dered. Elections occurred every few weeks. The vice pres- 
ident always took charge of the lesson, which occupied an 
hour. A critic was appointed for each session who gave 
his report at the close, sometimes seriously and sometimes 
humorously. One of Shakespeare's plays was read two 
evenings in succession, the third evening was devoted to a 
poem selected from some other author. Among the plays 
and poems studied were "Ji^i^i^s Caesar," "Hamlet," "Romeo 
and Juliet," "Merchant of \'enice," "King Henry the 
Eighth," "The Winter's Tale," "Snowbound," "Cotter's 
Saturday Night," "The Deserted Village," "The Cry of the 
Human," "Hager in the Wilderness," "The Holy Grail," 
"Locksley Hall," "Lady of the Lake," and "The Princess." 

A favorite in miscellaneous exercises was a five-minute 
extemporaneous speech by one of the boys. The speaker 
took the floor, the president announced the subject, then 
there was vacancy of mind and frantic endeavors to say 
something, while before the speaker sat a smiling audience. 
Finally the president would say, "The time is up," and the 
victim would eagerly take his seat. F. E. White was given 
the subject "Forefathers" and Prof. Spooner "Among the 
Stars." In a spelling exercise, sides were chosen. Prof. 
Spooner's side won, then E. C. Gilbert spelled the society 
down. In a parsing exercise H. C. Elmer's side was vic- 
torious. There were discussions, as "Resolved, that the 
printing press is more beneficial to man than steam." Af- 
firmative, F. E. White and C. H. Crowell. Negative, E. C. 
Gilbert and H. C. Elmer. It was decided in favor of the 

267 



The Schools 

negative. The society was entertained by music each evening. 
Perhaps it would be a solo, "Under the Daisies," by Phin- 
nie Bliven, or a quartette, "John Brown" (with variations), 
by Nellie Persons and Phinnie Bliven, Leslie Elliott and 
Obed Wilmot, when listeners were in high glee and singers 
not far from it, or the whole society would sing "Daniel in 
the Pion's Den," or Prof. Spooner would perform upon the 
organ producing instrumental music which was instrumental. 
"This is instrumental." (Applause.) Hattie Stacy, Katie 
Hardy, May Lundrigan, Lizzie Kyes and Flora Metcalf 
were frequent organists. Select readings by the girls were 
without number and recitations were numerous. 

January, 1879, a committee consisting of F. E. White, 
H. C. Elmer and O. L. Elliott was appointed to wait upon 
the school board for the purpose of gaining permission to 
change the room occupied by the society for a more desir- 
able one. The committee having received a favorable an- 
swer the society moved from the old Lyceum room in the 
southeast corner of the third story to a room in the south- 
west ])art of the first story. February 12, 1879, on motion 
of O. L. Elliott the constitution was amended to include the 
appointment of a janitor. Mr. Elliott had the honor of 
being the first janitor. 

H. C. Elmer from the committee on miscellaneous ex- 
ercises reported a murder trial which after being amended 
was accepted as follows: 

Lawyers for the People : Prof. Spooner, O. L. Elliott. 

Lawyers for the Prisoner : E. C. Gilbert, F. E. White. 

Sheriff H. E. Tarbell 

Nurse Phinnie BHven 

Prisoner C. H. Crowell 

Mother-in-law Jennie Laning 

Judge H. C. Elmer 

268 



The Polyhymnian Society 

Clerk H. R. Charles 

Physician G. D. Ryder 

Second Wife Nellie Persons 

Witnesses for people : Jennie Laning, G. D. Ryder, 
Mary Briia, Hattie Stacy, Katie Hardy, Phinnie Bliven. 

Witnesses for prisoner: C. H. Crowell, Myrtie 
Nye, Ella Farwell, Viola Crowell, Nellie Persons, Vernie 
Gordon. 

Deceased died Jan^iary, 1878. Second marriage, July 

4, 1878. 

This trial of C. H. Crowell for the alleged murder of his 
wife was opened by Prof. Spooner, the District Attorney, 
and continued four sessions. E. C. Gilbert summed up for 
the defense, reviewing the testimony and showing the in- 
competency of Dr. Ryder. O. L. Elliott closed the case for 
the people, endeavoring to show, first, the impossibility of 
Dr. Ryder administering arsenic, and second, the probability 
that Mr. Crowell did. Judge Elmer charged the jury in an 
able manner. After the jury had been out about twenty 
minutes they brought in the verdict "Not Guilty." The trial 
aroused much interest in the town. 

In October, 1879, the heavy volumes of Shakespeare 
with fine print were discarded and it was decided to use 
Rolfe's edition of Shakespeare, each play bound separately, 
instead. 

Among other things for entertainment was a charade. 
Vernie Gordon came in sewing, followed by Myrtie Nye 
sighing. O. L. Elliott marched in with a teapot and com- 
menced steeping his exhilarating beverage. Helen White 
guessed the word which was So-cie-ty. Hon. O. T. Wilmot 
was introduced and favored the society with an oration 
which was very fine. Affording much amusement to those 
present was a tableaux, "Married Life," by Phinnie Bliven 

269 



The Schools 

and E. C. Gilbert. Scene i, Just Married. Scene 2, Married 
a Year. One night in November, 1879, the members re- 
mained after the session, upon invitation by one of the girls, 
to "a candy pull" which was a "sweet and sticky" affair. 

"O childhood's joys are very great 
Swinging on somebody's gate, 
Eating candy till his mouth 
Is all stuck up from north to south." 

One of the young men who wore a Prince Albert that 
evening was told by his mother the next morning that he 
had better go and sit in the creek. An open session was 
given by the society in the Academy Hall December 19, 
1879, the leading feature of which was a Breach of Prom- 
ise Suit — Miss Nettie Adams vs. Homer E. Tarbell. This 
trial although funny did not awaken so much interest as 
the former one. What are wounded affections by the side 
of poisoning a wife? Other general exercises given from 
time to time show what life and spice there was in the Poly- 
hymnian. 

Silent Song — ]\Ir. Gilbert at the organ. 

Chase Reading — Misses Persons, Bliven and Gordon. 

Calisthenic Exercises. 

Original Poetry by each member. 

Riddles. 

Query Box. 

A discourse in which F. E. White took the society to 
the planet Mars with his dog. 

A Game, Verbarium, conducted by Anna Kendall. 

Autobiography — Prof. Spooner. 

Select Reading, "Bonnie Leslie" — Myrtie Nye. 

Reading, "Story of Deacon Brown" — Frona Gilbert. 

Poem, "Old Maids in Council"— F. E. White. 

270 



Present Philoniathean Society 

Poem, "Old Bachelors in Council" — Rose Olthof. 

Selections from Mother Goose— The Society. 

Paper, "Items of Interest"— Flora Lyon (it proved in- 
teresting). 

Auctions were held occasionally to sell copies of Shake- 
speare's plays. They were not marked by solemnity. De- 
cember 24, t88o, a public entertainment was given, followed 
by a Christmas tree. This was during the principalship of 
H. J. Van Norman. March 23, 1881. the following decision 
was made by the president, May Lundrigan: "Members 
must not nominate themselves." An appeal was made but 
the house sustained the decision. January 31, 1883, the 
society was edified by an excellent essay upon Victor Hugo 
by Louis B. Lane. The last session was held May i, 1883. 

There were those who said that the Polyhymnian was a 
place for the "hims to go home with the Pollys." Per- 
haps it was true, but a taste for good reading was inculcated 
and the poems read and discussed at the Polyhymnian seem 
a little nearer than any others. 

"O didn't we have a jolly time?" 
Good-by dear old Polyhymnian. 



THE PRESENT PHILOMATHEAN SOCIETY 
E. L. and H. J. W. G. 

SOON after Frederick Leighton became principal of the 
Rushford High School, in 1901, the subject of form- 
ing a literary society was agitated among the students, and 
the outcome was a meeting in the room of the principal and 
the election of the following officers : 

271 



The Schools 

President Ethel King 

Vice President Ethel Tait 

Secretary Allan H. Gilbert 

Treasurer Katherine Baldwin 

Teller Earl Kingsbury 

Philomathean was the name chosen for the society. 

The first meeting was held in October; there were 
present forty-two active members and five associate mem- 
bers; the program consisted of music, recitations and read- 
ings, follov/ed by a debate on the question: "Resoh^ed, That 
women should have poHtical e<:|uality with man." It was de- 
cided in the affirmative. 

Under the auspices of the society, a series of enter- 
tainments was furnished which was liberally patronized, and 
in connection with the school, a paper called The Banner 
was pubhshed every month. It contained happenings, orig- 
inal poems, essays, communications from former pupils and 
friends of the school, and spicy editorials; but its life was 
brief, because of added work for the pupils and insufficient 
financial backing. The subscribers missed its cheery pres- 
ence. 

When Kate Proctor was president of the society, a 
special session was called, to meet immediately after school. 
After the meeting had been called to order. Earl Kingsbury 
inadvertently made some remark. Ilie president informed 
him that he had not been recognized, whereupon Earl 
turned round in his seat and, addressing the society, said, 
"Don't you know me?" 

While Allan Gilbert was president. Justin ]\Iacklin's 
name was on the program for an extemporaneous speech, the 
subject to be given by the president after the speaker had 
taken the floor. Justin took his stand with both hands flown 

272 



Alumni Poem 

deep in his pockets. He was given the subject, "The Use 
of Pockets." 

The society is still a prominent feature of the school. 
There is a good attendance and much enthusiasm. Good 
music is one of its leading features. The present officers 
(1909-10) are: 

President Ward James 

Vice President Ethel McCall 

Secretary Blanche Lane 

Treasurer Millard Smith 

ALUMNI POEM 

(A Poetic Hash.) 

Lucy Marsh Poate. 

This is the night on which our dreams 
FHt backward thro' the misty years. 
Forgot our present hopes and fears, 
The vanished past the present seems. 

.The same hall echoes to our tread, 
The old familiar faces smile, 
Dear friendships are revived a while 
And gaily the old greetings said. 

Fellow alumni, you recall 
This night your own commencement day. 
Picture once more as best you may 
Yourself within this dear old hall ; 

You sat upon this selfsame stage. 
You felt yourself admired of all, 

273 



The Schools 

You heard the plaudits in the hall 
And rose to read your essay sage. 

It was an effort trite and true 

And writ on some time honored theme. 

Of paper it required a ream, 

And it was tied with ribbon blue. 

It settled the affairs of state 
Or censured fashion's foolish laws. 
You dealt in proverbs and wise saws 
Or dabbled with the hand of fate. 

Your subjects deep were scorned by some, 
Unlettered these, an untaught few, 
For our alumni, since they knew 
Their own past follies, would be dumb. 

Ah, there upon the stage that night 
What hopes you had for future days. 
With what high hearts upon life's ways 
W^3uld you life's hardest battle fight. 

For one he would a lawyer be. 
And one would in the pulpit stand, 
And some to be physicians planned. 
And some old maids — like me, you see. 

(Kate P. Proctor.) 

A lawyer grave would be our Kate, 

An engineering stunt she'd do. 

With dabs of art, and Latin too. 

But she's turned schoolma'm, such is fate. 



Alumni Poem 

(C. Han ford Kendall.) 

One lad he would a trapper be, 

For Christmas gifts he sold the hide; 

But at the Christmas tree he sighed, 

The girls all gave him traps, you see. 

But blush not though your dreams be far, 
Within your hearts we cannot see. 
We know not what you hoped to be. 
We only see you as you are. 

Five score and more there are of you, 
Of some we fain would further speak, 
These from among you let us seek. 
An honored and a favored few. 

(Cora Beaumont.) 

And there is one for whom we know 
A pride too deep to be expressed. 
Chosen among our ranks the best, 
Across the broad Atlantic go. 

Your honor we must feel as ours. 
Our Alma Mater's daughter you, 
A daughter earnest, gracious, true. 
Redeeming fully all your powers. 

And there are some who from our school 

With scholarships to college went. 

To Syracuse, Cornell we sent, 

And they proved wonders as a rule. 



275 



The Schools 

(Allan H. Gilbert.) 

For one, the country with his costumes rung; 

Broken the promise of his youth, 

For then he ran but now, forsooth, 

He rides the country roads among. 

(Herbert S. Babbitt.) 
One laddie sails the ocean blue. 
Brave Herbert is a midshipmite. 
Strange tidings he doth homeward write, 
O Temperance Union, be they true? 

(Mrs. Myrtie Metcalf Bush.) 
For one, our next year's president, 
A matronly and gracious dame, 
Will surely win undying fame 
On parliamentary learning bent. 

(Mrs. Ruth Mason Watson.) 
Wits would our Rushford pace deride. 
But courage, we are not so slow, 
We have our weddings too, you know. 
All honor to Old Home Week's bride. 

(J. Edward Lundrigan.) 

This lawyer in a western town 

In boyhood loved the dance so gay. 

The waltz and two-step, so they say, 

But now he talks the wisest down. 

(Abram P. Benjamin.) 
And one, that golden-headed youth, 
A gallant swain in days of yore. 
But married now he flirts no more. 
A printer's devil he, forsooth. 

276 



College Gradutes, Etc. 

(Earl D. Kilmer.) 

A cat has nine lives, so they say, 

Seven operations on one's pet, 

xA.nd seven from nine leaves two lives yet. 

The doctor's cat lives to this day. 

P'ellow alumni, I am through. 
My muse is halting at the best. 
At more of her you would protest, 
So let me bid you each adieu. 

Dear school, I cannot say good-by. 
Could I forget those pleasant ways 
Through which I walked in school girl days, 
Then could I part without a sigh. 

O Alma Mater, tender true, 
We have no need to say Farewell 
For always in our hearts you dwell, 
An ever present memory you. 



COLLEGE GRADUATES, ETC. 

F. E. Woods, A. B., 1866; A. M., 1868. Genesee Col- 
lege (now Syracuse LTniversity). 

H. C. Elmer, A. B., 1883, Cornell University; Ph. D, 
1888, Johns Llopkins LTniversity ; Europe, 1885-1886. Mem- 
ber of faculty of Cornell LTniversity since 1888. 

O. L. Elliott, Ph. B.. 1885 ; Ph. D., 1890, Cornell Uni- 
versity. Instructor in English. Cornell University, 1886- 
1891 ; Registrar of Leland Stanford, Jr., University since 
1891. 

277 



The Schools 




Allan H. Gilbert 

C. Hanford Kendall, C. E., 1895, Cornell University; 
M. S., 1896, University of Minnesota; Scholar and Instruc- 
tor in Civil Engineering 1 895-1 897, University of Minnesota. 

R. Talcott Brooks, B. Arch., 1900, Cornell University. 

Frederick W. Poate, M. E., 1905, Cornell University. 

Ruth H. Mason Watson, A. B., 1905, Alfred University. 

Ernest M. Poate, M. D., 1906, Cornell University. 

Allan H. Gilbert, A. B., 1909, Cornell University; A. 
M., 1910, Yale University; Fellow in Enghsh, 1910-11, Cor- 
nell University. 

J. Edward Lundrigan, Albany Law School, 1901. 

Frank James, LL. B., 1904, University of Buffalo. 

278 



Artists 

Clyde Wheeler, LL. B., 1906, Syracuse University. 

M. Raymond Atwell, LL. B., 1900, Syracuse Uni- 
versity. 

Frank Himes, University of Rochester, 1898, Theology. 

Arthur L. Warren, Crozer, Pennsylvania, 1901, The- 
ology. 

Edward L. James, University of Rochester, 1905, The- 
ology. 

William W. Bush, D. D. S., 1903, University of Buf- 
falo. 

Clarence H. Thomas, D. D. S., 1903, University of 

Buffalo. 

George Benjamin, D. V. M., 1905, Toronto Veterinary 
College ; Graduate Course, 1907, Chicago. 

Herbert S. Babbitt, United States Naval Academy, 
1906. 

Myrtie Emily Nye, Industrial Art School, Philadelphia, 
1893. 

May Gordon Wilmot, Normal and Fine Arts Course, 
Mechanics Institute, Rochester, 1897. 

Lena Warren, Ithaca Conservatory of Music, 1902. 



A 



ARTISTS 



MONG the artists may be mentioned Mrs. Mary Thomp- 
son Gordon and Mrs. Plelen Doland Judd, whose 
paintings in oil beautify homes in Rushford. Miss Julia 
Thompson has hanging on her walls an exquisite tapestry 
painting done by her sister, Mrs. Gordon, and Mrs. Judd 
paints, in water colors, roses so true to nature that they 
seem to lack only the fragrance. 

279 



E 



VI 

PHYSICIANS 

THE MEDICAL PROEESSION 
H. J. W. G. 

BENEZER HYDE, who settled in Belvidere in 1804, 
was the first practising physician in Allegany County. 
His practice extended as far north as Wyoming County. 

Dyer Storv. the youngest son of Captain Zecheriah 
Story, was born May 17, 1789. He received such common 
school education as the first settlers were able to give their 
children. He determined upon the study of medicine, and 
as a means to that end engaged in school teaching through 
the winter months. In the autumn of 181 3 he completed his 
medical studies at Hanover, N. H. In 1814 he went to 
Rushford, N. Y., where he remained for three years, hav- 
ing a large practice. He was the first practising physician 
in Rushford (then Caneadea) and so far as known the 
second in Allegany County. In 1817 he was prostrated by 
a severe illness which lasted three months, and upon recov- 
ering sufficiently to endure the journey, he determined upon 
a visit to his friends in Windsor, Vermont. Here he was 
induced to settle permanently, living with his father upon 
the home farm many years. He died November 13, 1868, 
having spent fifty years in the practice of his profession. 
Dr. Story held various public offices, delivered addresses on 
public occasions and in 1846 and 1847 was a member of the 
legislature. Dr. Jesse P. Bixby met him at Ludlow, Ver- 
mont, years after he left Rushford. 

Horatio H. Smith was a doctor in Rushford in 1819. 

280 




Orrin T. Stacy, M. D. 



Physicians 

He was then twenty-four years of age. In 1827 he was a 
member of the Allegany County Medical Society. 

William Smith came to Rushford about 1840. He 
would drive about the country with his reins loose reading 
some book upon medical science. Drs. Charles W. and 
John H. Saunders studied medicine with Dr. Smith and 
later in accordance with his wishes were graduated from 
Bellevue Medical College, New York City. 

J. M. Ward ofiFered his professional services as early 
as 1844. He lived in the house now occupied by W. F. 
Benjamin on the west side of Lower Street, the second door 
from the bridge. 

T. M. Copp was in Rushford in 1845. He was associ- 
ated with Dr. Wm. Smith, probably as a student. He after- 
wards practised in Machias. 

L. B. Johnson in 1846 lived two doors north of the 
Washington House on Buffalo Street. His office was in the 
Union Block. He was living in Rushford in 1855. 

H. H. Smith, formerly of Angelica, located in Rushford 
about 1846. 

Wm. McCall in 1847 and 1848 was practising medicine 
with Dr. H. H. Smith. In March, 1848, he said that he 
had so far recovered his health that he had relinquished 
all other business and was ready to attend to all calls per- 
taining to his profession by day or by night, in storm or 
sunshine. 

William B. Alley, in 1847, introduced himself to the 
public, saying that his business was to combat all diseases 
of this climate. His office was in the Union Block, He 
removed to Angelica, then later to Nunda. 

A. B. Stewart was a physician in Rushford in 1850. 

Ripley practised medicine in Rushford a few 

years, leaving in 1852. His wife was a sister of William 



The Medical Profession 

Bradley, a wagonmaker of the town. He lived in the 
house now owned by Mrs. Helen Laning. 

Tesse P. Bixby was born in Mt. Holly, Vermont, in 
1822. He was graduated from the Medical College in Cas- 
tleton, Vermont, in 1852. The next year he located in Rush- 
ford where he is still practising. 

William A. Stacy. See "Recollections of a Doctor." 

James Pitts was in Rushford in the late fifties. 

John C. Pitts was one of Rushford's physicians in the 
early sixties. 

John P. Colgrove was a medical student under his 
uncle, James Pitts, then for a year (1860-61) he studied in 
the College of Medicine and Surgery, Cincinnati. He then 
followed his profession with another uncle, John C. Pitts 
of Rushford, until November, 1862, when he assumed the 
practice of John L. Eddy in Allegany. In 1892 he was liv- 
ing in Salamanca. 

Orrin T. Stacy, son of William A. Stacy, was born in 
Centerville, New York, in 1835. He read medicine in his 
father's office and was graduated from the INIedical College 
in Buffalo in i860. He practised medicine in Rushford 
tweny-five years. In 1885, when he removed to Rochester. 
Rushford suffered a great loss. He is president of the O. 
T. Stacy Company, candy manufacturers, Rochester, New 
York. 

Corydon C. Mason was a student of Dr. Colgrove of 
Sardinia. lie attended lectures in New York City and Buf- 
falo and located in Freedom, Cattaraugus County. In 1866 
he came to Rushford where he practised a short time. He 
was a well-read physician. He died in Rushford Janu- 
ary 21, 1891. 

Robert Y. Charles was graduated from the Medical 
College in Buffalo in 1870. The same year he came from 

283 



Physicians 
Angelica to Rushford where he practised medicine about 
twelve years. 

P.. B. Grover came to Rushford in t88o and remained 
about a year. He is now living in Colorado Springs, Colo- 
rado. 

W. F. Wells was graduated from the Medical College 
in Buffalo in 1883. He was a practising physician in Rush- 
ford for a number of years, but is now a preacher in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church in East Aurora, Erie County. 

Charles W. Guild located in Rushford in 1889 where he 
remained about two years. He died in 1900. 

Charles O. Sayres was born in New Hudson in 1869. 
He read medicine with Dr. E. B. Burdick of Olean. In 1892 
he was graduated from the Medical Department of the Uni- 
versity of Buffalo. The same year he came to Rushford 
where he practised medicine five years, then he moved to 
Belfast where he now resides. 

Fred C. Ballard, a graduate of the Medical Department 
of the University of Buffalo, began his practice in Rushford 
in 1897. He is one of the resident physicians. 

C. I. Dodge located in Rushford in 1902. After re- 
maining in the place two years, he moved to the State of 
Maine. 

Earl D. Kilmer was born in Rushford, and was gradu- 
ated from her High School in 1897. In 1904 he was gradu- 
ated from the Medical Department of the University of 
Buffalo. He is the last physician to locate in Rushford. 

ANECDOTES, ETC. 

DR. WILLIAM SMITH lived on Main Street in a build- 
ing that stood at the west end of the Brick Block. It 
was afterwards used by C. W. Woodworth as a postofiice 

284 



Anecdotes, Etc. 

and law office. Dr. Smith's land extended to the Hyde lot, 
and on the grounds of the present High School building was 
his orchard. 

Mrs. Smith made so tempting pies that if she placed 
one on the shelf before the pantry window to cool, it would 
disappear. Dr. Smith thought he would find out the cul- 
{)rit, so the next time that Mrs. Smith made pies he doctored 
one with ipecac. This pie also disappeared, but it was not 
long before the doctor was called to see a sick boy. 

AXECDOTF. OF F. E. WOODS. 

The services of Dr. William Smith as a physician in 
Rushford are worthy of special mention. He was a gradu- 
ate of a medical school in New York City, and was noted 
far and near as having a high standing in his profession. 
Dr. Gillette told me at the Centennial of Rushford that he 
studied under Dr. Smith and was with him at his death. 
My parents related that Mr. Asa Benjamin once had an 
attack of lop-jaw, and a physician was called who endeav- 
ored to reduce it, but after some time acknowledged his 
failure and said, "I guess you will have to send for Dr. 
Smith." He came and seeing what was needed to be done, 
said to the other physician, "Please see if my horse is stand- 
ing where I left it." While the other was looking out of the 
window. Dr. Smith quickly pressed the lopped jaw into 
place, then quietly took his departure. Dr. Smith was re- 
lated by marriage to Drs. John and Charles Saunders of 
Belfast, having married an aunt of theirs from Franklin- 
ville. 

ANECDOTE OF A^^0N. 

Dr. James Pitts was located in Rushford before his 
brother John. John took James' place. When John came 
to town Newell De Kay was taking him around to intro- 

285 



Physicians 

duce him to people. They met on the sidewalk a man to 
whom he introduced Dr. Pitts as Dr. James Pitts' brother. 
He shook hands with Dr. John and said that he never had 
the pleasure of his brother James' acquaintance, thank God. 
He was an early Methodist and added, "Thank God," or 
something similar to every sentence. Sometimes it was not 
very appropriate. 



RECOLLECTIONS OF A PHYSICIAN 
Orrin T. Stacy 

THE spirit which animated the medical profession and 
the services which they gave in the pioneer days of 
Western New York, are worthy of consideration in any 
review of those times. The early settlers came to a wilder- 
ness with scanty supplies and little money. They endured 
many hardships and lived under unsanitary conditions. Pov- 
erty was nearly universal and sickness prevalent. Nearly 
all business was barter or exchange of one farm product 
for another. The services of the physician were at times of 
epidemics in almost constant requisition night and day. All 
the roads were miserable and some were merely logways or 
trails through large tracts of forest so that horseback rid- 
ing was the only practicable way the physician could make 
the rounds among his patients. Fatigue or loss of sleep did 
not excuse the pioneer physician in his own mind from re- 
sponding to the call of the sick. His pay was pitifully small 
and totally inadequate to properly provide for the needs of 
a large family. Any physician who collected one-half of his 
small fees would have made a major general of finance if 
he had lived in these times. There was a prevailing feeling 
of sympathy and comradeship among the early settlers. If 

286 



Recollections of a Physician 

a man was sick his neighbors planted, cultivated and har- 
vested his crops freely without pay. Why should not the 
physician doctor him without fees? 

In the absence of any records to consult, I am obliged 
to write wholly from memory and I wish it understood that 
the physicians mentioned and incidents related are typical 
and that many physicians were animated by the same spirit, 
were equally well qualified and met with similar experiences. 

It happened that the first physician with whom I became 
acquainted was my father. Dr. William A. Stacy. He took 
three courses of lectures at Castleton Academy, Vermont, 
and at the University of Vermont, in 1822, 1823 and 1824. 
In the intervals between the lecture courses he studied in the 
office of Dr. P. B. Havens in Hamilton, Vermont. He was 
twenty-six years old when he commenced the study of medi- 
cine, had a good academic education, had taught school and 
was therefore fitted by age and discipline to profit by his 
medical instruction. In the summer of 1824 he married 
Nancy Bingham, only child of Nathan Bingham. As soon 
as arrangements could be completed, my father with his 
bride seventeen years of age, with her parents, started in 
a land schooner for the Holland Purchase in New York 
State. 

They reached Centerville the last of October, 1824. Dr. 
Stacy bought the home and practice of Dr. Weld and on 
election day Dr. Weld took Dr. Stacy to the election to in- 
troduce him to the people. In those days every man went to 
election in the morning and stayed till night, devoting the 
whole day to athletic sports and corn spirits. Dr. Stacy 
was soon challenged to wrestle with some local athlete. For- 
tunately that part of a boy's education was not neglected 
in Vermont. The challenge was accepted and in the bout the 
challenger was thrown to the frozen ground with such force 

287 



Physicians 

that his kneepan was broken. He became the patient of the 
new doctor who had thus won his first patient by his muscle. 

Dr. Stacy soon had a practice sufficient to tax to the 
utmost his hardy constitution. His practice extended into 
all the surrounding towns, including a considerable portion 
of the north half of Rushford. Probably at that time more 
than one-half of that country was covered with dense for- 
ests. At one time night overtook him in the woods near 
Crystal Lake and he found himself traveling in a circle. He 
was unable to get out of the woods and was obliged to hitch 
his horse and spend the night sitting on a log. At another 
time he was riding on a road through woods late at night 
when his horse and himself were frightened by the menacing 
growl of some wild animal a few feet from the road. The 
horse turned in a flash and raced back to the house that 
they had started from. In the morning some hunters and 
dogs traced the animal to the east side of the Genesee River, 
found him in a treetop and shot him. It was a lynx. In 
November, 1833, Dr. Stacy was riding home from Rushford 
at about three o'clock in the morning when he witnessed one 
of the most startling and brilliant natural phenomena re- 
corded in history, the great storm of meteors of that year. 

In 1856 Dr. Stacy moved to Rushford and continued 
the practice of medicine. He had a keen sense of humor 
and was usually able to get some fun out of the most vexa- 
tious circumstances. After attending a family in which the 
various members had taken turns in having typhoid fever, 
the sickness covering a period of about four months, the 
first payment he received on the bill came in the shape of a 
dressed pig so poor and skinny that he credited the debtor 
with one-hundred-sixty-five pounds of pork rind. He never 
made any complaint to the man but got full value received 
out of the amusement he extracted from the transaction. He 

288 



Recollections of a Physician 

left Elijah Aletcalf s house on the Creek Road one dark night 
and had been but a short time on the road when the horse 
stopped and looked back at him. The doctor hit the horse 
a gentle cut with the whip and he started up again on a trot. 
After going a few rods farther he stopped again and looked 
back. The doctor got out in the dark to investigate and 
found that one of the thills was not in the loop which holds 
it up and the horse had recognized the fact. The doctor 
said that he took off his hat and made all apologies due from 
one gentleman to another. He ever after drove that horse, 
night and day, without any bits in his mouth. One morning 
Dr. Stacy was called in great haste to the top of Lyndon 
Hill to see a sick boy. On arriving at the bedside of the 
small patient, he found the grandmother of the motherless 
boy in a state of great alarm over the condition of the boy. 
After the doctor had carefully examined the patient, she 
anxiously inquired if the boy would get well. She then said 
that if he was sure that the boy would get well she would 
tell him what she had done. She said the boy got up in the 
morning and didn't care for any breakfast and wanted to be 
excused from going to school. She thought that inasmuch 
as it was so far to call a doctor she would first see what she 
could do for him. After thoroughly examining the cupboard 
the only medicine that she was able to find was some eye- 
water so she gave him a teaspoon of that which acted as 
a prompt emetic and also terribly frightened the grand- 
mother. 

After forty-one years of service among the sick, I da 
not think that Dr. Stacy was ever accused of slighting any 
patient because there was no prospect of receiving pay. His 
last sickness was caused by blood-poisoning, contracted from 
a patient whom he was attending. 

One of the oldest physicians that I remember in Rush- 

289 



Physicians 

ford was Dr. William Smith. I only knew him from the 
general reputation which he bore when I first went to Rush- 
ford, fifty-eight years ago. I think he came from New York 
City. He had a large practice and was so entirely devoted 
to it that in a busy time he made no charges. He rarely if 
ever presented a bill for any services ; people paid him when 
.and what they saw fit. It was said of him that every spring 
time he was made sick trying to eat the veal that his patrons 
brought him. He was a well qualified physician of excellent 
natural ability. 

Dr. John Saunders of Belfast, a relative, studied medi- 
cine with him and imbibed a large share of his spirit of de- 
votion to the duties of his profession. 

When I commenced practice in Rushford, forty-eight 
years ago, pioneer conditions existed in spots, especially in 
what was known as the Pine Woods. Two or three inci- 
dents which I will mention will serve to illustrate the joys 
of medical practice in the "good old days." In the first 
month of my practice, March, I received a call in the night 
to go to Porter Swift's; I was told to go to East Rushford. 
turn to the right and go up the hill to the second house. I 
went to East Rushford, crossed the bridge and began to 
climb the hill. There was a violent storm of snow and sleet 
and it was so dark that I could not see any object. I got to 
the top of the hill without seeing a house. My horse ran 
into some object which I got out of my sulky to investigate 
and found to be an old-fashioned drag. I discovered a 
small house near the road and roused the occupant who in- 
formed me that I was on the wrong road, that I should have 
turned to the right before I came to the mill pond. I started 
to go back and proceeded a few rods in the total darkness 
when suddenly, without my knowing what had done it, 
the horse, sulky and myself were pitched into the corner of 

290 



Recollections of a Physician 

the fence. I was able to crawl out of the heap, the horse 
floundered, the sulky cracked and I could smell from the 
wreck all sorts of odors which came from my demolished 
medicine case. After quite a long struggle the horse gave 
it up and quieted down. By the sense of feeling I unhitched, 
unhooked, and cut straps enough so that I could pull the 
sulky av/ay. After getting the horse on its feet I got on its 
back in quite a dilapidated condition and rode home, leaving 
the patient to get well without my interference. I went back 
the next day and found that I had tried to run over a pine 
stump about four feet high and three and one-half feet in 
diameter. This stump stood in the center of the highway. 

In 1863 I received a call one July day to visit a patient 
at John Ryecraft's who lived where he now lives, but in- 
stead of the present stately buildings set in well tilled fields, 
there was a pioneer cottage set in a field of stumps, sur- 
rounded by a considerable forest and reached by a logway 
extending from near the pond to his house. The logway 
ran for a considerable distance through primeval forest and 
was worn from a half foot to a foot deep. I reached his 
house near night and realized that a great storm was coming 
from the southwest. After hurried attentions to the patient I 
started for home. Mr. Ryecraft offering to go with me to 
the highway. We had not gone far when the storm broke 
on us in great fury, the wind almost amounted to a tor- 
nado, the rain came in torrents, the lightning was almost 
continuous and the crash of falling trees freely mingled with 
the almost continuous roar of thunder. We took the horse 
out of the sulky and Mr. Ryecraft took his place and drew 
it, I following behind leading the horse through what was 
now a canal. We had not gone far in the woods when Mr. 
Ryecraft came up against a tree that had just fallen across 
the logway and called back to me what he had found. I 

291 



Physicians 

led the horse to the fallen tree and the same moment a flash 
of lightning revealed a woman standing on the other side of 
the tree, her face a few inches from mine, and emitting 
an unearthly shriek. Mr. Ryecraft and myself both recog- 
nized her by the lightning flash, but she seemed to think 
that we were some demons of the storm and continued to 
scream for some time, but at last recognized the voice of 
Mr. Ryecraft who was one of her neighbors. It was Mrs. 
Ned Mountain. She always maintained that she nevef re- 
covered from the fright and exposure of that night. Mr. 
Ryecraft was a stalwart and resolute man equal to almost 
any occasion but he could not turn aside falling trees or 
ward off lightning. I have always gratefully remembered 
his kindness in going through the woods with me that night. 

In length of practice and constancy to his calling 
through more than one-half a century of faithful service, 
I think that Jesse P. Bixby holds precedence over all the 
physicians who ever lived in Rushford. He has many of 
the elements of a skillful surgeon. 

Since the pioneer physician made his rounds among the 
sick there have been many refinements in the practice of 
medicine and some improvements, but there has not been 
a remedy discovered in the last hundred years, except the 
diphtheria, tetanus and rabies antitoxins, which the mod- 
ern physician could not dispense with and still practise med- 
icine with the most brilliant success. More than sixty years 
ago most physicians believed that all infectious diseases 
were caused by germs and confidently anticipated the ulti- 
mate discovery and identification of these germs. More 
than sixty years ago my father was convinced that pulmon- 
ary consumption was infectious and was communicated by 
disease germs but he had no correct idea how that germ 
was transferred. The development of antisepsis has made 

292 



Recollections of a Physician 

a new epoch in the science and practice of surgery and has 
resulted in the saving of an enormous number of hves. 

My twenty-five years of medical practice in Rushford 
was at times strenuous and exhausting but on the whole I 
thoroughly enjoyed it. All the unpleasant features have 
long been forgotten and a thousand pleasant memories re-' 
main. All the gratitude and appreciation which I ever de- 
served were freely given. The intimacy with so many 
families which only the physician enjoys, served to increase 
my respect for human nature and to lead me to believe that 
I was fortunate in the people with whom I lived and worked 
the best part of my life. 



293 



VII 

TOWN MEETINGS, SUPERVISORS AND 
TOWN CLERKS 

MONEY belonging to the town of Caneadea before the 
same was subdivided, remaining in the following 
hands, viz. : 

In the hands of Cromwell Bennett: 

A balance of Charles Swift $32.21 

In the hands of Ebenezer P. Perry : 

James Orcutt's Note for License $5-00 

Lorin Francis' Note for License 5.00 

At the first annual town meeting of the town of Rush- 
ford held at the house of Levi Benjamin in said town agree- 
able to the Act of the Legislature on the day of April, 
A. D. 1816, the town officers for said town were chosen 
as follows, viz. : 

Supervisor — Doct. Dyer Story. 

Town Clerk — Pliny Bannister. 

Assessors — Abel Belknap, Matthew P. Cady, Roderick 
Bannister. 

Commissioners of Highways — Tarbel Gordon, Jerry 
White, James Orcutt. 

Collector — Daniel Woods. 

Constables — Levi Benjamin, Thomas L. Pratt, 

Overseers of the Poor — Ebenezer P. Perry, Levi Ben- 
jamin. 

School Commissioners — Eliab Going, William Vaughan, 
Wm, L, Gary. 

294 



Town Meetings, Supervisors and Town Clerks 

Inspectors of Schools — Doct. Dyer Story, Abel Belknap, 
Reuben Bennet. 

Overseers of Highway, Fence Viewers, Damage 
Prisers and Pound Keepers — Joshua Wilson, Danial Woods, 
Junia Freeman, Joseph Young, Leonard Farwell, Jonathan 
Going, Amba Alderman, Charles Swift, Jr., William 
Vaughan, Cromwell Bennet, Matthew P. Cady. 

Also the following resolutions were passed : 

Resolved, that there be raised $250.00 town's money 
for the use of the Commissioners of Highway. 

Resolved, that the Commissioners of Highway be di- 
rected to divide the town money raised for their use amongst 
the several districts according to the length of road in each. 

Resolved, that Hogs shall not be free Commoners. 

Resolved, that our next annual town meeting shall be 
held at the house of Samson Hardy, innkeeper. 

SECOND TOWN MEETING. 

The town clerk being absent, Roderick Bannister was 
appointed to serve in his stead by James McCall, Eneas 
Gearey, Jesse Bullock, Justices of the Peace on the first 
day of March, 181 7. 

Resolved, that in case the law granting a State bounty 
for the destruction of wolves be repealed, this town give 
five dollars for each and every full grown wolf killed in 
the town by a person residing in the town. And in case 
the County bounty for the same purpose be removed then 
this town pay the sum of ten dollars in lieu of the afore- 
mentioned five. 

At the seventh anniversary town meeting of the in- 
habitants of the town of Rushford held at the Baptist meet- 
ing house agreeable to adjournment on the fifth of March, 
1822, 

295 



Town Meetings, Supervisors and Town Clerks 

Resolved, that inspectors of common schools have fifty 
cents per day for their services. 

Inspectors of Schools — ^James Going, Samuel White and 
Joel Burlingame. 

Supervisors of the town of Rushford since 1816: 



Cromwell Bennett, 1817-19. 
Matthew P. Cady, 1820-24. 
William Hull, 1825. 
Samuel White, 1826-27, 1841-44. 
Tarbel Gordon, 1828-30, 1832-34. 
Samson Hardy, 1831, 1837-38. 
John Hammond, 1835-36. 
Abraham J. Lyon, 1839-40. 
Isaiah Lathrop, 1845-46. 
Orville Boardman, 1847-48. 
Samuel Gordon, 1849-50. 
James Gordon, 1851-52. 
Avery Washburn, 1853-4, 1863-65. 
Ebenezer P. Lyon, 1855. 
John W. Hill, 1856. 

Town Clerks since 1816: 

James Going, 181 7. 
Eneas Garey, 1818, 1822-26. 
Matthew P. Cady, 1819. 
Chesterfield Parsons, 1820-21. 
Oramel Griffin, 1827, 1835-36. 
Orville Boardman, 1828-34, 1845- 

46. 
Charles Gilman, 1837-38, 1841-42. 
Harmon Hyde, 1839, 1840, 1847. 
Isaiah Lathrop, 1843-44. 

State Senators resident in Rushford: 

James McCall, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827. 

Members of Assembly resident in Rushford : 

James McCall, 1818, 1819, 1823. Orrin T. Stacy, 1874, 1875. 

Grover Leavens, 1847. Alanianzo W. Litchard, 185 

Orville Boardman, 1849. 1899, 1900. 
Lucien B. Johnson, 1855. 



Winthrop P. Young, 1857-58. 
Washington White, 1859-60. 
Bates T. Hapgood, 1861-62. 
Charles W. Woodworth, 1866-74, 

1884-86. 
Jedediah B. Gordon, 1875-76. 
William E. Kyes, 1877-78. 
Willard A. Stone, 1879-81. 
Charles B. Kendall, 1882. 
A. L. Litchard, 1883, 1894-1905. 
Henry A. Holden, 1887-88, 1893. 
William H. Benson, 1889. 
Grover M. Pratt, 1890-92. 
Elmer A. Gere, IQ06-1907. 
Ralph B. Laning, 1908 — 



Harvey George, 1848-50. 

A. W. Colby, 1851. 

W^ashington White, 1852-54, 1856- 

57- 
Harry Howe, 1855. 
Lucius C. Kimball, 1858-75. 
Watson W. Bush, 1876-1903. 
John A. Benjamin, 1904-07. 
Frank W. Damon, 1908-09. 
William W. Bush, 1910. 



296 




\ 



Alaman:?o W. Litchard 



VIII 

SOCIETIES 

LODGES OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS 

THE RUSH FORD LODGE. 

Compiled by H. J. W. G. 

PETITION for a lodge in the town of Rushford in the 
County of Allegany: to be called. Recommended by 
Angelica Lodge, No. 167. 
To the Right worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of 

the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. 

Your petitioners Master Masons members of the An- 
gelica Lodge and others from dififerent parts of this State — 
Resident in the Town of Rushford & County of Allegany — 
beg leave to represent that we live remote from any Lodge 
of M. Mason — Angelica being the nearest and that eighteen 
miles from the most of us — and we, though few in number 
feel a desire to promote the Happines/ of Mankind by ex- 
tending the benefits of the Ala/onic In/titution to all who 
may be found worthy and well qualified well knowing that 
it is founded on a firm ba/is and good principles to create 
Harmony — friendship and Brotherly love — we therefore 
pray the worshipful Grand Master to grant a dispensation to 
work in the several degrees of Masonry for such Length of 
time as to him may see proper — To Initiate, pa/s and Rai/e 
Candidates To the degree of Master Masons and we Take 
the liberty To recommend our worthy Brother Lyman 
Blake/lee for Worshipful Master — and our worthy Brother 
Matthew P. Cady for Seignior Warden & our worthy 
Brother Charles Swift for Junior Warden and pray that 



Free and Accepted Masons 
they may be appointed accordingly and your petitioners 

will ever pray. 

Canneadea February 12— in the year of Masonry 5816 

— of our Lord 18 16 — 

Jedediah Nobels 
Samuel Upham 
Matthew P. Cady 
Cornelius D. Board 
Charles Swift 
James Orcutt 
Lyman Blakeslee. 
The foregoing petition was addressed to "Daniel Crager, 
Esq., Postmaster Bath, Now at Albany N. Y." It was 
marked "Free" and dated "Angelica, Feby. 13, 1816." It 
was desired that he would forward the petition to the 
Grand Lodge and endeavor to obtain a dispensation for 
them while he was in Albany. 

RECOMMENDATION. 

To the right worshipful Master, Warden and Brethren 
of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York Free and 
accepted Masons — The officers & Brethren of the Angelica 
Lodge Being personally acquainted with the Gentlemen 
whose names are annexed to this Petition these know them 
to be men of good morals and we think they will conform 
to all the rules and regulations of masonry — we therefore 
feel free to Recommend them to the Grand Lodge for a 
Dispensation. 

By order of Angelica Lodge 

Amos Peabody 
Secretary of Angelica Lodge 

Names of persons initiated passed, or admitted as 
Members of Rush ford Lodge No. 275 from the i8th March 
5817 to the 24th June 5818. 

299 



Societies 

Names. Place of Birth. Place of Res. 

Lyman Blakeslee' .Weathersfield, Vt. Rushford 

Matthew P. Cady' Windsor, Vt. Rushford 

Charles Swift, Jr,^ Rushford 

Cornelius D. Boards Rushford 

Wm. Hull4 Mason, N. H. Rushford 

Samuel Upham^ Weathersfield, Vt. Rushford 

James Orcutt , Rushford 

Sam. H. Morgan Friendship 

Z. Z. Caswell Norton, Mass. Angelica 

Cromwell Bennett Rushford 

Levi Benjamin Ashburnham, Mass. Rushford 

Alanson Thomas ..Rensselaer, N. Y. Rushford 

Joshua L. Delano Rushford 

Alfred Forbes Colerain, Mass Pike 

Wayne Banisters Windsor, Vt. Rushford 

Richard B. White Hartland, Vt. Rushford 

Simon C. Moore Friendship 

Asa Harris Brooklyn, Conn. Caneadea 

Eliab Going Reading, Vt. Rushford 

Jacob S. Rappleye New Jersey Rushford 

Joseph Wilson Caneadea 

Joseph Maxson ■ Pike 

Andrew Sherburn 

Warren Banister Windsor, Vt. Rushford 

Adin Spalding^ Cavendish, Vt. . Rushford 

Darius Spalding Cavendish, Vt. Rushford 

Jeremiah L. Rappleye New Jersey Rushford 

' Initiated in Vermont Lodge, No. i. 

2 Initiated in Angelica Lodge, No. 167. 

3 Initiated in Washington Lodge. 

4 Initiated in Brothers Lodge, No. 147. 

5 Initiated in Eastern Star Lodge, No. 41, Vermont. 

6 Initiated in Rising Sun Lodge, No. 22, Ohio. 

300 



Free and Accepted Masons 

Ephraim D. White Hartland, Vt. Rushford 

Enos Gary Rushford 

Names of Persons who have been entered as Members 

of Rushford Lodge, No. 275, from the 24fh day of June, 
A. D. 5819, to the 27th day of December, A. D. 5822. 

Names of INIembers Age. Occupation. Residence. 

Daniel Huntley 34 Farmer Ischua 

Richard Tozer 30 Farmer Ischua 

Peleg Robbins 25 F'armer Ischua 

Levi Peet 35 Farmer Ischua 

Aden Griffith 33 Farmer Caneadea 

Jonathan Carpenter 22 Farmer Ischua 

Ebenezer K. Howe 21 Farmer Rushford 

Thomas Morris 43 Farmer Rushford 

Jonathan Post — Preacher Angelica 

Horatio Smith 24 Doctor . Rushford 

Adolphus Mavey — Carpenter Rushford 

Peter Ten Breock 25 Farmer Ischua 

Joseph Young 37 Farmer Rushford 

John Brown 32 Trader Richmond 

Simon Wilson 37 Farmer Caneadea 

Wm. L. Gary (1820) 30 Farmer Rushford 

Andre Bennett 32 Farmer Rushford 

Zechariah Lawrence 38 Farmer Rushford 

Amos Rose 37 Farmer Rushford 

Stephen Hardy 22 Farmer Rushford 

Samuel Upham (withdrew) . . 

Oliver Plumb 43 Carpenter Centerville 

Lewis Wilson . . . . — Farmer Rushford 

Freeman S. Wilson — Farmer Caneadea 

Daniel Ingersol — Farmer Caneadea 

Timothy S. Daniels (1822). — Carpenter Caneadea 

301 



Societies 

James Green — Great Valley 

Jacob S. McCall 22 Farmer Rushford 

George P. Ketchum 38 Farmer Caneadea 

Cyrus H. Clement 25 Joiner Caneadea 

Allen P. Torrey 30 Farmer Rushford 

Charles Gary 27 Farmer Rushford 

Pliny Bannister — Farmer Rushford 

Roderick Bannister — Farmer Rushford 

In the report of June 5818 to June 5819, the names of 
John Hammond of Rushford, Joseph McClure of Ischua 
and Titus Gillet are found. 
To the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the State of 

New York. 

Be it known that on the 21st day of December 5825 at 
a regular meeting of the Rushford Lodge No. 275 held in 
the town of Rushford County of Allegany in the State of 
New York our worthy Brother John Hammond was duly 
elected and instated Master our worthy Brother Joseph 
Youngs seignior Warden and our worthy Brother Stephen 
Hardy Junior Warden of the said Lodge for the ensuing 
year. 

In testimony whereof we the members of said Lodge 
have caused the Seal thereof to be hereunto affixed and 
our Secretary to sign the same. 

Oramel Griffin, Secty. 

NOTES. 

Jedediah Nobels, whose name appears on the petition, 
kept the first tavern in what is now Belfast. It was at his 
house that the first town meeting for Caneadea was held 
in 1808. 

Joseph Maxson of Pike was the first settler in Center- 
ville. Centerville was formed from Pike in 1819. 

302 



Joseph Enos Lodge 

Alfred Forbes of Pike was later the first town clerk of 
Centerville. 

Sam. H. Morgan and Simon C. Moore lived in what 
was later called Cuba. At this time Cuba was a part of the 
town of Friendship. Richard Tozer, Peleg Robbins, Levi 
Peet and Peter Ten Rroeck were the first settlers of Farm- 
ersville. In 1820 Ischua embraced the towns of Franklin- 
ville, Farmersville, Lyndon, Ellicottville, Freedom and York- 
shire. 

James Green was the first permanent settler of Great 
Valley and the first supervisor of Olean. 

Mrs. Harriet Going Colby of Holland, New York, says 
that the meetings of the Rushford Lodge were held in a 
building that stood where William Woodworth's grocery* 
used to stand. In the second story of this building the 
Masons kept their "goat," a terror to small children. The 
lodge went down because of the Morgan excitement. 

JOSEPH ENOS LODGE 
Eddy C. Gilbert 

JOSEPH ENOS LODGE of Free and Accepted Masons 
commenced work under dispensation May 4th, 1853. 
August 19th, 1854, the lodge received its charter from the 
Grand Lodge of Masons of the State of New York, and the 
following officers were duly installed : 

Hiram Johnson Master 

George Cole Senior Warden 

Henry Kirke White Junior Warden 

Ira Bishop Secretary 

David Babbitt Treasurer 

"^rhe site of William Woodworth's grocery is now the flower 
garden of Mrs. Ida Litchard on Upper Street near the head of 
Main Street. 

303 



Societies 



The following have served as Masters : 

Henry Kirke White 1885 A. Fraser 1880 

David Babbitt 1856 Myron Claus 1882 

S. F. Dickinson 1857 Eddy C. Gilbert i^ 



C. W. Woodworth 1859 Wm. Barber 1887 

E. George i860 W. F. Wells 1889 

W. White 1862 A. Fraser 1891 

E. George 1863 Eddy C. Gilbert 1892 

C. W. Woodworth 1865 M. B. Nye 1894 

J. P. Bixby, M. D 1866 Daniel W. Gilbert 1897 

W. E. Kyes 1870 Abel M. Tarbell 1902 

E. F. McCall 1876 Eddy C. Gilbert 1904 

W. E. Kyes 1877 W. H. Thomas 1910 

David H. Brooks was Secretary for twenty-three years. 

In 1858 they moved to the hall over the drug store in 
the Concrete Block which had recently been built. They still 
occupy the same hall. In the early years lodge meetings 
were held in the afternoon. Dr. H. R. Palmer was a mem- 
ber of this lodge at the time of his death. The lodge was 
named from Joseph Enos, a prominent Mason, who was 
Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York 1822- 
1824. 

BANQUET OF RUSHFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

THE evening of February 22, 1890, the Historical Society 
met in the pleasant parlors of Mrs. L. E. Hardy to 
celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of George Wash- 
ington. Among the guests were some notable in the his- 
tory of our country. Over the company beamed the benig- 
nant faces of General* and Mrs.f Washington. The years 

*Cyrus Croop. 

tMrs. Edward Magiiire. 

304 



Banquet of Historical Society 

seemed to have touched them hghtly. The general's com- 
manding figure was still unbent, his dress was faultless from 
his silver shoe buckles to his powdered hair; Martha was 
still as charming as when a blooming widow she won the 
heart of George Washington. Molly Stark's smiling face 
beneath her matron's cap spoke plainly that the country 
was saved and she not a widow. This was confirmed by the 
presence of General Stark± himself in full uniform. Mrs. 
Sedgwick with her intellectual face set off by a high cap- 
was also present. 

There was Israel Putnam§ with a collar too high, and' 
a stock which gave him considerable trouble ; he also had 
a fatal tendency to tread on the trains of the ladies; but 
still he bore himself with the dignity becoming an old vet- 
eran in the presence of his beloved general. When Master 
Holmes Wallace gave a select reading upon the doings of 
Israel Putnam, the old soldier declared that he remembered 
them as if they had happened yesterday. Mr. Munger then- 
remarked that he had understood that Washington had a 
charmed life, that no bullet could hit him; he wondered if 
the solution was not to be found in these words, "A pru- 
dent man foreseeth evil and hideth himself : but the simple 
pass on and are punished." The latter part of the proverb 
he thought would apply to Putnam who was the only dis- 
abled veteran present. Putnam was then called upon for 
a speech, but he declared that he was a fighter and not a 
maker of speeches. 

After "ye old time musique" the company repaired 
to the dining room, the walls of which were decorated with 
the national emblems and pictures of the associates of 
Washington. The hanging lamp was draped with red, white 

tDr. C. W. Guild. 
§Eddy C. Gilbert. 

305 



Societies 

and blue; perforated tin lanterns hung about the room; 
and the tables, lighted by candles, were spread with delicious 
viands, fitting the occasion. 

The banquet was presided over by Prof. E. Maguire, 
master of ceremonies. At a table apart were General and 
Mrs. Washington; on each side was a long row of tables 
for the other guests. When all were seated quotations were 
given from the sayings of Washington. The toast, "George 
Washington, the father of his country," was responded to 
in a happy manner by the Rev. W. L. Hunger. 

A telegram was then brought to the door by Washing- 
ton's private page. It read as follows: "The Rushford in- 
nocents abroad send greetings from Mt. Vernon." Mrs. 
Alice Lathrop Holden, a member of the Historical Society, 
was one of the "innocents abroad." 

When rising from the table, with waving of hands and 
handkerchiefs, three rousing cheers were given for Wash- 
ington, the first president of these United States, — "first 
in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." 
Again assembling in the parlor, Dr. W. F. Wells read the 
only letter in existence written by Washington to his wife. 
A library chair, once belonging to General Herkimer of Rev- 
olutionary fame, then in possession of his grand niece, Mrs. 
J. E. Wallace of Rushford, was brought forward and its 
history given by the Rev. J. E. Wallace. A patriotic song was 
sung by "ye ancient choir" amid the merriment of the com- 
pany. Miss Stacy (Mrs. D. Wilkin) rendered a piece of 
instrumental music with pleasing eflFect. Mrs. Maguire sang 
that sweet and touching song, "The Old Folks at Home," 
and the company began to break up, declaring they had spent 
a delightful evening. 

(Arranged mainly from an article in the Rushford 
Spectator, 1890.— H. J. W. G.) 

306 



IX 
WAR 

AN INTERESTING LETTER OF WAR TIME 

THE following was written by A. W. E. Damon to his 
nephew during the stirring times of the Civil War 
Some of the older people of Rushford will remember Mr. 
Lyman as an active young man and school teacher who at 
the age of twenty-one, in the fall of 1856, went to northern 
Illinois. That was a comparatively new country at that 
date and seemed to be the "Far West," Chicago being hardly 
twenty-five years from settlement and the Erie Railroad to 
Cuba only five or six years old. He was ambitious but 
met with one heavy reverse after another until plunged, by 
fraud probably, some $8,000 or $9,000 into debt with nothing 
to show. By dint of energy and perseverance he came out 
from under it, became a prosperous banker, engaged to 
some extent in manufactures and was a director in a rail- 
road company. He was one of the most prominent laymen, 
perhaps the foremost, in the great Rock River Conference 
of the Methodist Church. 

Rushford, Dec. 2d, 1861. 
Dear Nephew and family. 

Yours of Oct. 3d came to hand in due time. The time 
had been so long since you had written us that we had almost 
concluded your business absorbed your time and attention 
too much to write us. We were happily disappointed and 
hope we shall not have occasion to think so again. More- 
over we will try and answer you sooner than we have this 
time. Yesterday, Sunday, was the first wintry day we 
have had. People have continued to plow till last Saturday. 

307 



War 

Our crops of all kinds were just about middling fair for this 
country. Dairies sold very low this fall, 5)^ to 6^^ cents. 
* =^ * Mr. Evans has enlisted for three years. He has been 
at the camp at Elmira for two months. Was home last 
week. Some 4,000 men there. They leave this week for 
Washington. He is in the 64th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., Col. 
Parker. He has three brothers in the army. John Worth- 
ington's two youngest boys are in the army. The youngest 
was at Bull Run. Ira Ames was also there. Albert Babbitt 
was killed there. Rushford and vicinity, Rushford being 
the nucleus, has sent off at three different times about 130 
men, and Rev. (Capt.) John C. Nobles has enlisted about 
40 more in this region, who go into winter quarters at Leroy. 
Uncle John Worthington goes with them. The Colonel of 
the regiment is Rev. James M. Fuller of Genesee Confer- 
ence, Presiding Elder for five or six years. I am glad you 
Western Patriots are doing so much in this our country's 
trials; but when you go ahead of old Rushford let us 
know about it. We had at one meeting here over $2,000 
pledged for the benefit of the families of volunteers. Old 
York State is right side up with care: 130,000 men in the 
field within seven months of the time Beauregard with his* 
legions roused the slumbering fires of ^jd from their ashes. 
See what Gen. Dix, one of New York's patriot sons, has 
just accomplished in Accomack and Northumberland, with- 
out the loss of a single man. And see what the brave old 
Gen. Scott said of the N. Y. 69th (Col. Bendix I think), 
"The best disciplined regiment reviewed at Washington be- 
fore he left for Europe." It is supposed at the present time 
that N. Y. has furnished more than her quota, but enough 
of this. Excuse boasting, won't you ? Clark Bannister has 
just enlisted in the Navy for three years. Wm. O. Kings- 
bury has three boys in the army, and a Mr. Merrill, on the 

.108 



Roster of Soldiers 

old Hardy farm, has two sons there. James Tapp and two 
brothers just over from England have enlisted, two of Clark 
Kendall's sons, also Lyman B. Metcalf and a son of his. 
Lyman Eaton's two oldest boys are in a cavalry company, 
and so it goes. The mass of the people here are fearful of 
the effect of Fremont's removal, but we hope the govern- 
ment has not done it without good cause. * * * 

Your Uncle Alonzo Lyman has been sick but is better. 
The rest of the family are about as usual. The M. E. 
Church has had two or three years of trial in Western N. Y. 
from Nazaritism, but we have stood the storm, and think 
the bow of promise indicates a more pleasant future. I 
must bid you an affectionate farewell. Be faithful unto 
death, and a crown is in waiting. 

A. W. Damon and family. 

N. E. Lyman and family. 



ROSTER OF SOLDIERS 

H. J. W. G. 

HE roster contains the names of those who lived in 
Rushford at time of enlistment, those who now live 
in Rushford and those who are buried in Rushford. Those 
of the Civil War marked with an asterisk (*) did not live 
in Rushford until after the War. Each soldier was a 
private unless otherwise stated. 



T 



309 



War 

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION BURIED IN 
RUSHFORD 

OLIVER CROMWELL BENNETT served as a pri- 
vate in Capt. Eell's company, Col. Durkee's regiment, 
Connecticut Line. Being but sixteen at the opening of the 
war he first accompanied the regiment in 1776 as a cook or 
officer's servant. He was in the battle of Long Island Au- 
gust 27, 1776, narrowly escaping capture. Later, in 1780, he 
was a regularly enlisted man under arms. The records show 
that he served all of the year 1781. 

Ephraim Morrison enlisted April or May, 1780, and 
served nine months, Captain Levi Stockwell ; enlisted April, 
1781, and served six rnonths. Captain Dial Sherwood; en- 
listed October, 1781, and served three months. Captain John 
Armstrong, Colonel Webster. He engaged in a skirmish 
between Bloody Pond and Fort George. At time of enlist- 
ment he lived in Salem, N. Y. He applied for a pension 
October 30, 1832, while living in Rushford. He was born 
in Salem, Washington County, Sept. 10, 1763; died Oct. 15, 
1847 at Rushford. He married at Salem, October, 1781, 
Lucretia Henderson. He moved to Ovid, N. Y., soon after 
the close of the war and thence to Rushford. There were 
three sons and a daughter, Rachel, who married David King, 
Aug. 16, 1798. Widow was allowed a pension in 1848 while 
a resident of Rushford, aged eighty-five years. 

James Gordon — No record in Bureau of Pensions. 

Eneas Gary — Age 18; private; enlisted at Lebanon, 
Conn., January or February, 1776, served two months, Cap- 
tain Jeremiah Mason ; enlisted May or June, 1776, served 
six months. Captain John Isham ; enlisted August, 1776, 
served two months, Captain Green ; engaged in battles of 
Long Island and White Plains. October 30, 1832, while 

310 



Soldiers of the Revolution 

living in Rushford, he applied for a pension. The claim 
was allowed. 

Jonothan Going — Age i8; private; enlisted at Lunen- 
burgh, Worcester County, Massachusetts, July or August, 
1779, served seven months, Captains Nathan Smith and 
Jacob Haskins; enlisted July, 1780, under Justin Ely, com- 
missioner at Springfield, served six months. Captain Phineas 
Bowman; enlisted July, 1781, to October, 1781, Captain 
Jonathan Sibley. June 19, 1834, while living at Hinsdale, 
Cattaraugus County, New York, he applied for a pension. 
The claim was allowed. He was born at Lunenburgh, Mas- 
sachusetts. He lived in Vermont from 1782 until 1814. 

Daniel Kingsbury of Enfield, Hartland, and Sandis- 
field, married, February 7, 1771, Rose Pease, daughter of 
Benjamin Pease of Enfield. He lived in Enfield on land 
given him by his father; he was sergeant of the company 
raised in Enfield for the Lexington Alarm, under Major 
Nathaniel Terry. — "Connecticut Men in the Revolution." 
He was appointed ensign in the Second Battalion of State 
Troops, November, 1776, and served in Rhode Island under 
General Wooster the following year. 

Joshua Wilson of Gofifstown, New Hampshire, private 
in Capt. Samuel Richard's company in Col. John Stark's 
regiment. Entry— April 23, 1775. Signed receipt for coat 
money October 10, 1775. Private in Capt. Samuel Blodgett's 
company in Col. Enoch Poor's regiment ; mustered at Goffs- 
town, March 22, 1777. The selectmen's return of Goifs- 
town men engaged in Continental Army during the war also- 
contains his name. 

Charles Swift — Enlisted May 15, 1775; service, Decem- 
ber, 1777; rank, private; captain. Waterman Clift. Enlisted 
1780; service, two months; rank, sergeant; captain, Noel 
Potter. Enlisted 1781 ; service, three months; rank, sergeant; 

31 T 



War 

captain, Noel Potter. Enlisted 1781 ; service, eleven days; 
captain, Ichabod Robinson. Residence at enlistment. Clar- 
endon, \"erinont. Engaged in the battles Dorchester, New 
York and Germantown. May 7, 1818, while living in Rush- 
ford, he applied for a pension ; his claim was allowed. He 
■was born June 26, 1754, and died February 20, 1820, at 
Rushford. He married at Wallingford, Rutland County, 
Vermont, August 17, 1779, Johanna Jackson, born March 31, 
1764. She was allowed a pension on application executed 
July 21, 1837, while a resident of Rushford. The children 
were Heman, Abigail, Lorain, Rachel, Charles, Jackson, 
Samuel, Lurany, Harry, Claricy, Amanda, Van Ransalaer, 
Betsey, Lorena and George. 

Samson Hardy: Appears with rank of private on Lex- 
ington Alarm Roll of Capt. John Moore's company, which 
marched on April 19, 1775, from Bedford, Mass. Length of 
service, nine days. Town to which soldier belonged, Bedford. 

The name Samson Hardy appears on a company re- 
ceipt, given to Capt. John Ford for wages to October i, 1776^ 
dated Ticonderoga, October 2, 1776, and endorsed. "25 
July 'j^ marched from Chelmsford ; discharged at Albany 
I Jany yy-'' 

SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812 BURIED IN 
RUSHFORD 

David Babbitt. 

Andre Bennett, sergeant — Fuilisted at Caneadea, N. Y., 
September 5, 1814, and served until November 8, 1814. 
Captains Gregor and John Kennedy. March 31, 1871, while 
living at Cuba, N. Y., Rachel Orcutt Bennett applied for a 
pension. The claim was allowed. 

Ira Bishop, private — Enlisted September 9, 1812, at 
Windsor, \''ermont, April 6, 1871, while living in Rushford, 

312 



2T^vd X. Y. Vol. Infantry 

he applied for a pension. The claim was allowed. He mar- 
ried Sarah Patrick, May 22, 181 5, in Vermont. Their chil- 
dren were Louisa (Mrs. Isaac Amsden), John (married Abi- 
gail Benjamin), George (married Marietta Spencer), Char- 
lotte (Mrs. William Flagg), Matthew (married Roxana 
Alvord), Ira (married Caroline Elmore), Albert (married 
Celestia Amsden), Adaline (Mrs. Andrew J. Ackerly). His 
second wife was Mrs. S. Couch. He died July 5, 1873, aged 
eighty years and is buried in the Podonque Cemetery. 

Leonard Farwell — Died September 24, 1846. 

Benjamin Kingsbury — Went to Fort Niagara from 
Cherry Valley, N. Y. 

John Lamberson, private — Enlisted September 7, 1814, 
and served until November 14, 1814. Captain Samuel Bant, 
Major Mclntyre. Applied for a pension April 19, 187 1. 
The claim was allowed. 

Alvin K. Morse — Died in 1870. 

Amos Peck — Married Mary Kellogg at Middlebury 
(Wyoming), October 20, 181 5. Their children w^ere Sarah 
(Mrs. Reuben Rogers), Philena (Mrs. William W^oods), 
Lorenzo, Philetus, Igel (married Amelia Tarbell), Mary 
(Mrs. Jason Miller), Arminda, Armena (Mrs. D. Clark 
Woods). Amos Peck came to Rushford from Wyoming 
about 1850. He died November 6, 1866. 

E. Jabesh Peck — Died February 17, 1850. His curious 
tombstone in Podonque Cemetery was made b}' his brother, 
Dan Peck. 

Ebenezer P. Perry. 

SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WAR 
23RD NEW YORK A^OLL^NTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY B. 

Otis Kingsbury — Aged 21; enlisted May i, 1862; dis- 
charged May 22, 1863, by reason of expiration of term of 

313 



War 

enlistment. Subsequent service in 13th Heavy Artillery. 
Henry Wallace — Age 21 ; enlisted Aug. 29, 1862, for 
three years; discharged June 24, 1865, at Fortress Monroe, 
Virginia. 

26TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY C. 

*James Wilson — Age 22; enlisted August 13, 1861, at 
Rochester to serve three years ; mustered in as private Sep- 
tember 5, 1861 ; promoted corporal January i, 1862; 
wounded September 17, 1862. at Antietam, Maryland; re- 
turned to ranks February 28, 1863; mustered out with com- 
pany May 28, 1863, at Utica, N. Y. 

COMPANY I. 

*Everett S. Thompson — Age 19; enlisted April 19. 
1861, in State service; mustered in U. S. service May, 1861, 
for three months ; after the expiration of the three months 
turned over for the remainder of two years ; wounded at 
the second Battle of Bull Run ; discharged January 10, 1863. 
Subsequent service in 24th New York Cavalry. 

27TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY I. 

(Formed at Angelica.) 

Most of the Rush ford boys were enrolled at a mass 
meeting in Academy Hall on May 3. The company was 
mustered into State service on May 13 and into United 
States service on May 21. The company was mustered out 
at Elmira on May 31, 1863. 

Ira Ames — Age 25; mustered in May 21, 1861 ; dis- 
charged because of disability February 11, 1863, at White 
Oak Church, Virginia. 

Albert Babbitt — Aged 26; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; killed 

314 



27th N. Y. Vol. Infantry 

at Bull Run, July 21. 1861. He was the first Rushford man 
to give up his life in the war. 

Remain W. Benjamin — Age 20; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; 
discharged August 9, 1861, by order of General Mansfield. 

John W. Bishop — Age 21 ; enlisted July 5, 1861 ; pro- 
moted to corporal ; died at Richmond while a prisoner of 
war. 

Wilbur S. Chamberlain — Age 18 ; enlisted July 5, 1861 ; 
discharged September, 1862, at Bakersville, Maryland, by 
order of Secretary of War. 

Timothy C. Charles — Age 23; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; 
tie of Bull Run. Mustered out with company. 

Philander D. Ellithorpe — Age 20; enlisted May 3, 1861 ; 
mustered into United States service at Elmira, New York, 
May 21, 1861, as private of Capt. C. C. Gardner's company; 
promoted for meritorious service to corporal, March i, 1862 ; 
to sergeant, March i, 1863; discharged with company. Sub- 
sequent service in 2nd Mt. Rifles. 

Burton Freeman — Age 32 ; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; mus- 
tered as sergeant May 21, 1861, at Elmira; promoted to 
first sergeant, to second lieutenant, to first lieutenant, to 
captain. September 26, 1862; was color sergeant at the bat- 
tle of Bull Run. Mustered out with company. 

John R. Heald — Age 18; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; mus- 
tered out with company. 

Enoch Hibbard — Age 34; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; died 
July I, 1862, at General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Dennis Hurley — Age 21; enlisted August 31, 1861. at 
Elmira ; mustered out with company. Subsequent service 
in 13th New York Heavy Artillery. 

Thomas R. Merrill — Age 18; enlisted January 16, 1862; 
mustered out with company. Subsequent service in 13th 
New York Heavy Artillery. 

315 



War 

Winfield Tufts — Age i8; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; mus- 
tered out with company. Subsequent service in 13th New 
York Heavy Artillery. 

George Waters — Age 24; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; dis- 
charged August 9, 1 861, by order of General Mansfield. 

Charles A. Woodruff — Age 21 ; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; 
promoted sergeant ; wounded at Gaines Mills, Va., June 27, 
1862; discharged from General Hospital at Philadelphia. 
(The state records say that Charles A. Woodruff was dis- 
charged from the General Hospital, Baltimore, Md., but Mr. 
John R. Heald says that he knows Mr. Woodruff was in a 
hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., for he was with him.) 

Tra C. Worthington — Age 19; enlisted May 13, 1861 ; 
mustered out with company. 

Aaron H. Wright — Age 28; enHsted May 13, 1861 ; 

mustered out with company. (The best company cook we 

'ever had, ready with the rations wherever we were — on 

picket, skirmish or battlefield, always "Johnny on the spot." 

—P. D. Ellithorpe.) 

64TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY D. 

(Enrolled at Rushford.) 

Andrew J. Bannister — Age 2,2; enlisted September 13, 
1861 ; wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks Vir- 
ginia; captured July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg; died of dis- 
ease February 19, 1864, while a prisoner of war at Rich- 
mond, Virginia. 

Ralph L. Benjamin — Age 18; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
wounded in action December 13. 1862, at Fredericksburg, 
Va. ; promoted corporal ; killed at Chancellorsville, Virginia, 
May 3, 1863. 

Alonzo Brown — Age 23; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; 

316 



64th N. Y. Vol. Infantry 

wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia; 
died of disease June 12, 1862, at Fifth Street Hospital, Phil- 
adelphia, Pa. 

Henry Chamberlain — Age 24; enlisted Sept. 13, 1861, 
for three years ; discharged Nov. 14, 1862, at Frederick, Md. 

Henry B. Colburn — Age 25; enlisted October 15, 1861 ; 
mustered in as corporal October 19, 1861 ; promoted ser- 
geant; wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Vir- 
ginia; discharged for disabihty February 5, 1863, at Phil- 
adelphia, Pa. 

Enoch M. W. Cheney — Age 31 ; mustered in October 5, 
1861 ; killed in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia. 

William A. Day — Age 23 ; enlisted August 14, 1862, at 
Rushford ; discharged for disability January 15, 1864, at 
Elmira, New York. 

John L. Daball — Age 20; enlisted October 17, 1861 ; 
promoted corporal ; promoted sergeant ; discharged for dis- 
ability May 28, 1862, at Columbian College Hospital, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

Daniel T. Ely — Age 19; enlisted August 14, 1862; killed 
May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. 

William Ely — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; pro- 
moted corporal; wounded in action June 3, 1864, at Cold 
Harbor, Va. ; discharged for gun-shot wound. May 6, 1865, 
at Rochester, New York. 

Isaac W. Evans — Age 27; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; 
wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia; 
discharged for disability September 27, 1862, at Elmira. 

John H. Farwell — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
wounded and missing in action May 3, 1863, at Chancellors- 
ville, Virginia. 

Alonzo S. Gunn — Age 34; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
killed in action May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. 

317 



War 

Sylvester Hall — Age 19; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability March 6, 1862, at Camp Fitz Hugh, 
Fairfax Court House, Virginia; died August 30, 1862. 

George W. Hapgood — Age 25; enlisted September 13, 
1861 ; wounded in action June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va. ; 
discharged for disability September 30, 1862, at U. S. A. 
Hospital Philadelphia, Pa. 

George W. Howe — ^Age 18; enhsted October 15, 1861 ; 
mustered in as a musician November 2, 1861. 

William H. Hutchins, Jr. — Age 30; enlisted August 31, 
1862; wounded May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Virginia; 
died June 8, 1864, at Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D. C. 

David R. James — Age 18; enlisted October 17, 1861 ; 
killed in action May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. 

Clayton G. Jewell — Age 23 ; enrolled at Elmira to serve 
three years; mustered in as second lieutenant December 10, 
1861 ; as first lieutenant February 26, 1862; discharged 
July 6, 1862; enhsted in 13th O. V. C. ; killed July 30, 1864. 

Philander Kellogg — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
killed May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Virginia. 

James H. Kingsbury — Age 22; enlisted September 17, 
1861 ; discharged, because of wounds received in action, 
June 23, 1864, at De Camp General Hospital, Davids Island, 
New York. 

Abram J. Lyon — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
mustered in as musician ; promoted drum major of his regi- 
ment; promoted drum major of first division, second army 
corps; discharged May 30, 1865. 

Lyman B. Metcalf — Age 46; enlisted September 4, 
1861 ; discharged at Fortress Monroe November 9, 1862, 
by reason of disability. 

Nathan B. Miller — Age 21; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
discharged July 3, 1863, at Elmira, New York. 

.118 



64th N. Y. Vol. Infantry 

Alfred W. Morrison — Age 24; enlisted September 15, 
1861 ; mustered in September 24, 1861 ; wounded in action 
June I, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia; discharged for dis- 
ability August I, 1862, at Elmira. 

George Pelton — Age 33; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; 
wounded in action December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, 
Virginia; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps; mustered 
out Sept. 24, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia. 

Warren B. Persons — Age 22; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
taken prisoner at Gettysburg, Pa., confined at Belle Isle, 
Va., until February i, 1864, then at Andersonville, Ga., 
where he died July 9, 1864. 

John Peters, Jr. — Age 22; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
wounded May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va., and July 2, 
1863, at Gettysburg, Pa. ; transferred to Veteran Reserve 
Corps September i, 1863. Further record unknown. 

Howard Root — Age 18; enlisted September 13, 1861, at 
Rushford; died of disease January 16, 1862, at Franklin- 
ville. New York. 

Dwight Scott — Age 33; enlisted September 13, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability June 7, 1862, at St. Elizabeth Hos- 
pital, Washington, D. C. 

Henry H. Scott — Age 20; enlisted Sept 16, 1861, for 
three years; wounded June i, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va. ; 
wounded Sept. 16, 1862, at Antietam. Md., and also wounded 
and captured May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va. ; paroled; 
discharged April 11, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y. 

Nathaniel Seavey — Age 35 ; enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, for 
three years; discharged May 30, 1865, near Alexandria, Va. 
(Company cook.) 

Harrison T. Smith — Age 22 ; enlisted August 14, 1862, 
at Rushford; mustered in as private; promoted sergeant; 
wounded at Spottsylvania, Va. ; captured August 25, 1864, 

319 



War 

at Ream's Station, Va. ; paroled ; promoted first sergeant, 
promoted sergeant-major; mustered in as captain Company 
H March i, 1865; killed in action March 25, 1865, at 
Hatcher's Run, Va. 

Louis E. Tarbell — Age 25; enlisted October i, 1861 ; 
mustered in as sergeant October 5, 1861 ; discharged June 9, 
1862, at vSt. Eliza Hospital, Washington, D. C. 

William Starkweather — Age 31; enlisted August 14, 
1862; wounded in action December 13, 1862, at Fredericks- 
burg, Va. ; captured July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg; died Oc- 
tober 16, 1863, at Belle Isle, Va., a prisoner of war. 

Leonard Van Alst — Age 32; enlisted October 12, 1861 ; 
died of disease January 26, 1862, at Camp California, Va. 

Charles A. VanDusen — Age 21 ; enlisted October i, 
1861 ; wounded in action December 13, 1862, at Fredericks- 
burg, Va. ; promoted corporal; killed in action May 12, 1864, 
near Spottsylvania Court House, Va. 

Martin White — Age 24; enlisted October 14, 1861 ; 
mustered in as private in Company K, October 19, 1861 ; 
transferred to Company D, February 25, 1862; died at Har- 
rison's Landing, Va., September 15, 1862. 

Thomas J. White — Age 36; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
mustered in Oct. 16, 1862; captured October 14, 1863, at 
Bristoe Station, Va. ; taken to Belle Isle, Va., then to Ander- 
sonville, Ga., where he died August 9, 1864. 

John F. Wier — Age 22; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps November 15, 1863; 
discharged October 10, 1865. 

Roswell S. Wilmarth — Age 23 ; enrolled September 13, 
1861 ; promoted sergeant; wounded in action December 13, 
1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. (lost right arm) ; promoted 

320 



70th N. Y. Vol. Infantry 
second lieutenant March i, 1863; discharged for disability 
December 15. 1863. 

Thomas Russell Wilmarth— Age 23; enlisted August 
14, 1862; promoted corporal; killed in action May 3, 1863, 
at Chancellorsville, Va. 

Warren D. Withey — Age 24; enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, 
for three years; discharged for disability Jan. 12. 1863, at 
Emory Hospital, Washington, D. C. 

George W. Woods — Age 19; enlisted October 12, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability July 9, 1862, at Carver Hospital, 
Washington, D. C. 

Henry C. Woods — Age 18; enlisted August 14, 1862; 
mustered in October 16, 1862 ; discharged for disability 
November 14, 1862, at Frederick, Maryland. 

Oliver E. \\'oods^ — Age 21 ; enlisted October 17, 1861 ; 
discharged for disability April 8, 1862, at Clermont Hospital. 

William W. Woodworth — Age 41 ; enhsted at Elmira 
for three years; mustered in as first lieutenant December 10, 
1861 ; promoted captain February 26, 1862; died of disease 
December 28. 1862, near Falmouth, Va. ; buried in Rushford. 

Lewis Wright — Age 25; enlisted August 14, 1862; dis- 
charged for (hsabilit}' February 10. 1863, at rendezvous of 
(Hstribution, \'irginia. ( Sun-struck on the march to Get- 
tysburg. ) 

70TH XE\\' YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY H. 

EHjah ]\Ietcalf — Age 22; enlisted at Boston, Mass., to 
serve three years; mustered in June 21, 1861 ; transferred to 
Company H, 71st New York A'olunteer Infantry. 

81 ST NEW YORK \'OLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY K. 

George W. Cady — Age 33 ; enlisted at Brooklyn, N. Y. ; 
321 



War 

mustered in as private April 7, 1865 ; mustered out with 
company August 31, 1865, at Fortress Monroe, Va. 

83RD NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 
(9th New York Militia.) 

COMPANY F. 

John DuBell — Age 21; enlisted May 27, 1861, at New 
York City; discharged for disability July 2, 1861, at Camp 
Cameron, Washington, D. C. 

85TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY F. 

*Charles H. Himes — Age 26; enlisted October i, 186 1, 
at Black Creek, N. Y. ; mustered in as private October 16, 
1861; wounded in action May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va. ; 
promoted sergeant August 5, 1862; returned to ranks, re- 
enlisted as veteran and promoted sergeant ; captured in 
action April 20, 1864, at Plymouth, N. C. ; paroled; mus- 
tered out with company June 27, 1865, at New Berne, N. C. 

*Harvey McElheney — Age 24 ; enlisted September 2, 
1861, at Black Creek, N. Y. ; mustered in as corporal Sep- 
tember 7, 1861 ; returned to ranks; re-enlisted as veteran 
January i, 1864; captured in action at Plymouth, N. C, 
April 20, 1864; confined six months at Andersonville, Ga., 
and four months at Florence, S. C. ; re-captured by Union 
forces at Wilmington, N. C. ; mustered out with company 
June 27, 1865, at New Berne, N. C. 

*John A. O'Connor — Age 35; enlisted August 26, 1861, 
at Black Creek, N. Y. ; discharged for disability November 
II, 1862, at New York City. 

COMPANY — . 

James Patterson — Enlisted 1861 : died at Anderson- 
ville, 1864. 

i22 



86TH NEW. YORK \^OLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY D. 

*Alamanzo W. Litchard — Aged 19 ; enlisted August 29, 

1861, at ITornellsville ; discharged for disability December 9, 

1862, at Alexandria, Va. 

*AIexander L. Litchard — Aged 19; enlisted August 29, 
1861, at Hornellsville ; discharged for disability November 
13, 1862, at Washington, D. C. 

104TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY A. 

Thomas D. Bradford — Enlisted Sept. 30, 1861, as mu- 
sician, for three years ; discharged. 

105TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY D. 

Howard P. Lafferty — Age 34; enlisted December 9, 
i86t ; discharged July 4, 1862, from General Hospital at 
Falls Church, Va., on surgeon's certificate of disability. 

120TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY D. 

Charles Pettit — Age 17; enlisted September 3, 1864; 
prisoner of war at Libby and Pemberton, Richmond, Va. ; 
discharged June 2, 1865. 

Henry Pettit — Age 19; enHsted September 3, 1864; dis- 
charged June 2, 1865. 

149TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY E. 

James Augustus Hitchcock — Age 17; enlisted April 11, 
1865, for one year; discharged May 3, 1865, at Elmira, N. Y. 

323 



189TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY B. 

Lyman J. Cole — Age 16; enlisted at Dunkirk Septem- 
ber 20, 1864; mustered out at Arlington Heights; dis- 
charged May 30, 1865. 

COMPANY F. 

George S. Marsh — Age 18; enlisted October 2, 1864; 
discharged May 30, 1865, near Washington, D. C. 

SECOND NEW YORK MOUNTED RIFLES 

COMPANY B. 

(Mustered out at Petersburg, Va., August 10, 1865.) 

Watson W. Rush — Age 22; enrolled January 12, 1864, 
at Buffalo, N. Y. ; commissioned first lieutenant March 29, 
1864; taken prisoner September 30, 1864, at Pegram's Farm, 
\"a. ; paroled from Libby ; exchanged March 10, 1865 ; com- 
missioned captain July 31, 1865, vice Runyan, promoted; 
mustered out with company. 

John Cole — Age 18; enlisted at Rushford December 23, 
1863; sick in hospital at mustering out of company; died 
in hospital. 

George Franklin Durkee — Age 20 ; enlisted December 
15, 1863; mustered out with company. 

Philander D. Ellithorpe — Enlisted January 4, 1864, at 
Gainesville, N. Y. ; mustered into V. S. service as sergeant 
of Capt. Henry Runyan's company. Col. John Fisk com- 
manding; severely wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 17. 
1864; discharged July 20, 1865. from U. S. A. General 
Hospital. Chester, Pa., by reason of loss of arm by wound 
received in action and the close of the war. 

324 



2nd N. Y. ^lounted Rifles 

Henry Elmer— Age 35; enlisted December 25, 1863; 
mustered out with company. 

Leroy C. Ely— Age 18; enlisted December 19, 1863: 
transferred to Company G, 19th Veteran Reserve Corps, 
:\ray 19, 1865, from which discharged September 5. 1865. 
at Buffalo, N. Y. 

George S. Hackett — Age 19; enlisted December 22, 
1863; mustered out watli detachment June 18, 1865. in 
Whitehall Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. 

George W. Hapgood — Age 23 ; enlisted December 23, 
1863; appointed sergeant; wounded July 30, 1864, in front 
of Petersburg ; mustered out with company. 

Abram A. Howell — Age 40; enlisted December 12, 
1863; appointed bugler; mustered out with company. 

Lucian L. Lewis — Age 18; enlisted December 16, 1863; 
appointed corporal May i, 1865; sergeant July 20, 1865; 
mustered out with company. 

Lafayette Meade — Age 18; enlisted December 14, 1863; 
wounded June 18, 1864. in front of Petersburg, Va. ; died 
of wounds July 17, 1864, at Emory Hospital, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

Lyman Metcalf — Age 48; enlisted in Rushford. Dec. 
25, 1863 ; discharged August 9, 1865, at Washington, D. C. 

*John A. O'Conner — Age 35 ; enlisted December 18, 
1863, at New Hudson, N. Y. ; mustered in as corporal Janu- 
ary 5, 1864; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps April 5. 
1865, from which mustered out July 21, 1865, at Roches- 
ter, N. Y. 

DeWitt C. Pelton — Age 29 ; enlisted December 22. 1863 ; 
appointed corporal; killed on picket May 14, 1865. 

Riley W, Pettit — Age 20; enlisted January 4, 1864; 
died of disease September. 1864, at Field Hospital. City 
Point, Va. 

325 



War 

Channcey Williams — Age 28; enrolled December 24, 
1863; appointed farrier; mustered out with company. 

130TH VOLUNTEERS or FIRST NEW YORK DRA- 
GOONS 

(Mustered out June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va.) 

COMPANY B. 

John S. Dewey— Age 37; enHsted August 30, 1864; 
mustered out with company. 

COMPANY c. 

Elijah Bishop— Age 22; enlisted August 30, 1864; mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865, at Jarvis U. S. Army Hospital at 
Baltimore, Md. 

Julius R. Ford — Age 34; enlisted August 30, 1864; 
mustered out with company. 

Nathan E. Heald — Age 26; enlisted August 30, 1864; 
mustered out with company. 

Anson T. Lawton— Age 33 ; enlisted September 2, 1864; 
mustered out with company. 

Dwight Scott — Age 37; enlisted September 3, 1864; 
mustered out with company. 

Velorus Swift — Age 24; enHsted August 19, 1864; 
mustered out with company. 

Warren D, Withey — Age 26 ; enlisted August 30, 1864 ; 
mustered out with company. 

COMPANY D. 

James K. Hitchcock — Age 42 ; enlisted August 30, 1864 ; 
mustered out with company. 

COMPANY E. 

Alonzo D. Abrams — Age 22; enHsted Aug. 16, 1864, for 
one year; discharged June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va. 
(Substitute for Orrin T. Higgins.) 

326 



130th X. Y. A^'oliinteers 

Amba H. Alderman — Age 42; enlisted September 3, 
1864, at Centerville, N. Y. ; mustered out with company. 

Chauncey L. Alderman — Age 30; enlisted at Center- 
ville September 13, 1864; mustered out with company. 

Lyman G. Beecher — Age 28; enlisted at Rushford 
August 2, 1864; mustered out with company. 

Edwin A. Burr — Age 22; enlisted August 30, 1864, at 
Rushford ; mustered out with company. 

James Demcey — Age 30; enlisted Aug. 30, 1864, for one 
year; discharged June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va. 

Hosea B. Persons — Age 36; enlisted September 3, 1864; 
discharged June 8, 1865, because of illness in his family. 

Alvin C. Taylor — Age 33 ; enlisted Sept. 2, 1864, for 
one year; discharged June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mills, Va, 

PHn A. Taylor — Age 29; enlisted September 6, 1864, 
at Elmira, N. Y. ; mustered out with company. 

Cyrus Westcott — Age 21 ; enlisted September 3, 1864, 
at Centerville ; wounded in the hand at the battle of Five 
Forks, April i, 1865; discharged at Mower U. S. Army 
General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., June 14, 1865. 

COMPANY F. 

*Byron Vaname — Age 22; enlisted August 9, 1862, at 
Centerville, N. Y. ; mustered out with company. 

COMPANY 11. 

William Babbitt — Age 36; enlisted September 3, 1864; 
never joined company. 

Otis White — Age 30; enlisted August 30, 1864, at 
Rushford; mustered out with company. 

COMPANY K. 

Philetus Gratton — Age 40; enlisted September 2, 1864, 
at Rushford for one year; wounded in action at Liberty 

327 



\\'ar 

Mills, December 22, 1864; discharged ^lay 17, 1865, at U. S. 
General Hospital. York, Pa. 

5TH NEW YORK \TJLUNTEER CAVALRY 

COMPANY E. 

*Leonard Adams — Age 36; enlisted August 26, 1861, 
at Black Creek, N. Y. ; discharged on surgeon's certificate of 
disability because of injuries received in a railroad wreck 
when returning to seat of war with enlisted men ; discharged 
September, 1862. 

Charles W. Beardsley — Age 25 ; enlisted August 25, 
1861 ; discharged March 31, 1862, by order of General Mc- 
Clellan ; re-enlisted August 2Tii. 1864 as saddler; discharged 
June 13, 1865. 

*Roswell N. Byington — Age 21 ; enlisted August 29, 
1861, at Farmersville. N. Y. ; re-enlisted December 31. 1863; 
wounded in the leg at Cold Harbor, Va. ; discharged July 19, 
1865, at Winchester, Va. 

James H. Chase — Age 18; enlisted August 28, 1861, 
at Rush ford to serve three years ; mustered in as bugler 
August 31, 1861 ; re-enlisted as private January i, 1864; 
wounded, no date ; transferred March i, 1865 to Company G, 
14th \"eteran Reserve Corps, from which discharged as 
corporal August 19, 1865, at Washington, D. C. 

Aaron Eaton — Age 22 ; enlisted August 24, 1861 ; quar- 
termaster sergeant; re-enlisted January i, 1864; mustered 
out with company July 19, 1865, at Winchester, \^a. 

William A. Eaton — Age — ; enlisted August 28, 1861 ; 
re-enlisted January i, 1864; taken prisoner; mustered out 
June 24, 1865, at New York City. 

Adelbert E. Gould — Age 16; enlisted August 28. 1861 ; 
appointed commissary sergeant ; discharged as private Octo- 
ber 22, 1864, by order of General Torbert. 

328 




Sumner E. Kilmer 



War 

Sumner E. Kilmer — Age i8; enlisted at Rushford 
August 26, 1861 ; discharged December 31, 1863, by reason 
of re-enlistment as veteran volunteer at Stevensburg, Va. ; 
finally discharged July 19, 1865, at Winchester, Va., by 
reason of special order 78, Headquarters of Army of Shen- 
endoah, July 11, 1865. 

Charles McMullen — Age 34; enlisted August 30, 1861 ; 
appointed wagoner; re-enlisted January i, 1864; mustered 
out with company July 19, 1865, at Winchester, Va. 

John S. Trowbridge — Age 24 ; enlisted August 28, 1861 ; 
mustered as sergeant August 31, 1861 ; wounded at Han- 
over, Pa., June 30, 1863; died July 6, 1863, at Hanover; 
sent home and buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Hume, N. Y. 

Sylvester T. Upgrove — Age 21 ; enlisted August 30, 
1861 ; appointed corporal ; re-enlisted as corporal February 
22, 1864; promoted sergeant; wounded twice; taken pris- 
oner October 6, 1864 ; escaped October 9, 1864, during fight 
at Tom's Brook; mustered out with company July 19, 1865, 
at Winchester, Va. 

Leonard M. Worthington — Age 18; enlisted August 28, 
1861 ; appointed teamster; re-enlisted as private February 6, 
1864; captured June 29, 1864, at Ream's Station, Va. ; pa- 
roled April I, 1865; mustered out June 24, 1865, at New 
York City. 

loTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER CAVALRY 

COMPANY L. 

William Beaumont — Age 27 ; enlisted at Buffalo Sep- 
tember 15, 1862; orderly for Lieut. Tucker on General 
Smith's staff; mustered out at Clouds IMills. Va., Julv 19. 
1865. 

330 



24TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER CAVALRY 

COMPANY F. 

*Everett S. Thompson — Enlisted December 19, 1863; 
mustered in LL S. service January, 1864; discharged May, 
1865. Prior service in 26th New York Infantry. 

I ST NEW YORK \^ETERAN CAVALRY 

COMPANY F. 

Lyman Barber — Age 34; enHsted September 3, 1864; 
discharged June 8, 1865, at Camp Piatt, W. Va, 

5TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER HEAVY ARTIL- 
LERY 

COMPANY A. 

Charles D, Jenison — Age 18; enlisted January 4, 1864, 
at Friendship; mustered in January 4, 1864; captured April 
6, 1865, at Keyes Ford, Va. ; paroled; mustered out with 
company, July 19, 1865, at Harper's Ferry, Va. 

COMPANY D. 

John Small — Age 38; enlisted December 19, 1863; dis- 
charged July 19, 1865. 

8TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER HEAVY ARTIL- 
LERY 

COMPANY I. 

Albert K. Damon — Age 23; enlisted January 4, 1864, 
at Caledonia to serve three years; mustered in January 5, 
1864; wounded in front of Petersburg, Va. ; died of disease 
July 25, 1864, in New York Harbor. 

331 



COMPANY H. 

George B. Walker — Age 19; enlisted December 28, 
1863, at Elma; died in Libby prison, Richmond, Va., on 
June 8, 1864, of wounds received June 3. 1864 at Cold 
Harbor, Va. 

9TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER HEAVY ARTIL- 
LERY 

COMPANY E. 

*Alamanzo W. Litchard — Age 23; enlisted September 
6, 1864, at Conesus; mustered out June 16, 1864, at Phila- 
delphia, Pa. Prior service in 86th New York Infantry. 

13TH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY 

COMPANY D. 

Chester Beecher — Age 20 ; enlisted July 8. 1863 ; mus- 
tered in as corporal August 4, 1863 ; transferred to Company 
L, Sixth New York Artillery, June 18, 1865, from which 
mustered out; discharged September 2, 1865. 

Orange Cole — Age 38; enlisted September 6, 1864; 
discharged June 24, 1865, at Norfolk, Va. 

Silas A. Gilley — Age 18; enlisted July 11, 1863; mus- 
tered in as private August 4. 1863; promoted corporal; 
tiansferred June 18, 1865, to Company L, Sixth New York 
Artillery, from which mustered out ; discharged August 24, 
1865. 

James Healey — Enlisted July 11, 1863 for three years; 
discharged Aug. 24, 1865. 

Charles J. Hurlburt — Enlisted July 15, 1863; died at 
Portsmouth, Va., March 11, 1864. 

332 



I4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery 

Dennis Hurley — Enlisted June 22, 1863, at Cuba, N. Y. ; 
corporal ; transferred to Company L, 6th New York Artil- 
lery, June 18. 1865; mustered out Aug. 24, 1865. Prior 
service in 27th New York Infantry. 

Benjamin Kingsbury — Age 36; enlisted July 13, 1863, 
at Rush ford; transferred to Company L, Sixth New York 
Volunteer Heavy Artillery, July 18, 1865; mustered out 
August 24, 1865, at Washington, D. C. 

CJtis Kingsbury — Age 23; enlisted June 11, 1863; mus- 
tered in as first sergeant August 4, 1863; promoted second 
lieutenant September 14, 1864; discharged June 17, 1865. 
Prior service in 23rd New York Company B. 

Thomas R. Merrill — Enlisted June 23, 1863, at Rush- 
ford ; private Company D and first sergeant Company E ; 
mustered out July 18. 1865, at Norfolk, Va. 

Charles P. Tufts — Age 18; enlisted June 29, 1863; 
mustered in as corporal August 4, 1863; promoted ser- 
geant; transferred to Company L, 6th New York Artillery, 
June 18, 1865, from which mustered out; discharged Sep- 
tember 2, 1865. 

Winfield Tufts — Enlisted June 29, 1863, at Rushford; 
sergeant; transferred to Company L, 6th New York Artil- 
lery, June 18, 1865 ; mustered out August 24, 1865. 

COMPANY F. 

Ira Petty — Age 44; enlisted September 3, 1864, at Rush- 
ford; died of disease January 6, 1865, at Gosport, Va. 

Eber Lafferty — Age 38; enlisted September 3, 1864; 
transferred to D; discharged at Norfolk, Va., May 24, 1865. 

14TH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY 

COMPANY K. 

Adelbert Hall — Age 18; enlisted December 16, 1863, 
333 



War 

at Leyden; wounded June 17, 1864; mustered out May 12, 
1865, at Mower Hospital, Philadelphia. 



50TH NEW YORK ENGINEERS' BRIGADE BAND 

Albert Bishop — Age 25 ; enlisted Oct. 9, 1862, as mu- 
sician, Co. D, 50th N. Y. Engineers; transferred to Brigade 
Band July i, 1863; discharged June 8, 1865, at camp near 
Washington, D. C. 

Isaac Bowen Gordon — Age 30; enlisted Oct. 9, 1862, 
for three years, Co. E, 50th N. Y. Engineers ; appointed mu- 
sician; transferred to Brigade Band July i, 1863; dis- 
charged June 8, 1865, at camp near Washington, D. C. 



REGIMENTS UNKNOWN 

Henry Boardman — Buried in Rushford. 
J. Wiley Woods — Enlisted from Rushford. 

iiTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY B. 

(The three following brothers were Englishmen who 
had not been naturalized so could not have been drafted.) 

George Tapp — Age 25; enlisted April, 1861, at Lock 
Haven for three months ; re-enlisted for three years or until 
close of war ; made orderly sergeant ; promoted second lieu- 
tenant ; shot in both ams at first Battle of Bull Run ; after 
returning from hospital was made first lieutenant ; wounded 
in both thighs at Battle of Gettysburg; officer of the guard 
at the Long Bridge the night Lincoln was shot ; discharged 
at close of war. 

334 



42nd Regiment, Penna. Reserve 

James Tapp — Age 3.0; enlisted at Elmira, N. Y., in 
September, 1861 ; discharged June 3, 1863, at Washington 
D. C, for disabihty; re-enlisted Co. F, 141st N. Y. Inft. ; 
marched "from Atlanta to the Sea;" promoted to wagon 
master of twenty-four wagons; taken prisoner twenty-two 
miles from Goldsboro, N. C, while foraging for his com- 
pany ; exchanged ; discharged at close of war. 

William Henry Tapp — Age 19; enlisted August 16, 
1861 ; taken prisoner August 28, 1862; exchanged Decem- 
ber 13, 1862; transferred to Battery L, Second U. S. Artil- 
lery, in February, 1864; discharged at Cape Disappointment, 
Washington Territory, February 9, 1867, having served five 
years, six months and seven days. 



42ND REGIMENT, iST RIFLES, PENNSYLVANIA 
RESERVE VOLUNTEER CORPS (BUCKTAILS) 

COMPANY I. 

William A. Lafferty— Age 18; enlisted at Bradford, 
Pa., August II, 1861 ; wounded twice and taken prisoner 
at Fair Oaks, Va. ; discharged August 13, 1864, at Harris- 
burg, Pa., at expiration of service. (Height, five feet, six 
and one-half inches; light complexion; blue eyes; brown 
hair; occupation, laborer.) 

Philip G. Ellithorpe— Age 18; enlisted at Smethport, 
Pa., May 30, 1861 ; wounded by gun shot in the knee at the 
Battle of Gettysburg (Peach Orchard), July 2, 1863; leg 
amputated three times; died at Gettysburg, October 3, 1863; 
buried at Rush ford. 

335 



War 

199TH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 

COMPANY H. 

William G. Lafferty- — Age 44 ; enrolled September 3, 
1864; discharged June 28, 1865, at Richmond, Va. 

2 1 ST PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY 

COMPANY E. 

Edward \V. P)eecher — Age 23; first sergeant; enlisted 
Jan. 15, 1864; discharged July 8. 1865, at Lynchburg, \'a. 

32ND REGIMENT. UNITED STATES COLORED 
TROOPS 

*Corydon C. Mason — Age 48 ; assistant surgeon ; en- 
rolled February 26, 1864, having been appointed by Secre- 
tary of War; joined for duty March 5, 1864. When Sher- 
man evacuated Charleston, S. C, to go north, Dr. Alason 
picked two dandelions growing in one of the principal 
streets of the city. Discharged August 22, 1865. 

2ND OHIO BATTERY— LIGHT ARTILLERY 

''AVarren Clark was enrolled at age of 23, as a private, 
on the 1 2th day of August, 1862, at Conneaut, Ohio, by 
T. J. Carlin, and was mustered into U. S. service on the i6th 
day of September, 1862, at Columbus. Ohio, by Captain 
Dodd, and was discharged February 7. 1863, on surgeon's 
certificate of disability. 

336 



J 



8TI1 ILLINOIS \OLUNTEER CAVALRY 

COMPANY L. 

Charles Gordon — Age 21 ; enlisted October 4, 1864, at 
Marengo, 111. ; mustered into U. S. service as a recruit for 
one year. Height, 5 ft. 11 in.; hair, brown; eyes, gray; 
complexion, light ; occupation, farmer ; native. New York. 
Mustered out July 17, 1865. Residence at date of enlist- 
ment. Spring. Boone County, Illinois. 

3RD WISCONSIN BATTERY— LIGHT ARTILLERY 

Titus B. Chapin — Age 27; enrolled September 16, 1861, 
at Almond, Wis., for the term of three years ; mustered into 
service of \J. S. October 10, 1861, at Racine, Wis.; taken 
prisoner September 20, 1863 (Chickamauga) ; died of scor- 
butus January 7, 1864, at Andersonville, Ga. ; cemetery, 
Danville, Va. 

NAVY 

Daniel D. Persons — Age 43; landsman No. 151, on U. 
S. Steamer Paw-Paw; enlisted Sept. 3, 1864; discharged 
June 28. 1865. 



Extract from a letter written by William Seiver of An- 
gelica, late of Co. I, 27th Regiment, N. Y. V. : 

"My impression is that Eugene Ferrin of West Almond, 
N. Y., was the first Allegany soldier who was killed in the 
Civil War. Our regiment had but just got onto the fighting 
ground of Bull Run under command of Col. Henry W. 
Slocum (later Major General Slocum) when directly in our 
front were two Rebel regiments ; the first volley they fired 
Eugene Ferrin was struck in the forehead, standing at my 

337 



War 

side. If Babbitt was killed in the morning, before the bat- 
tle of Bull Run I did not learn of it." 

Extract from a letter written by Philander D. Elli- 
thorpe of Buffalo, late of Co. I, 27th Regiment, N. Y. V. : 

"I have no recollection of Ferrin but I do know when 
and where Albert Babbitt was killed ; I saw him receive the 
second shot, after he was down; it was down in the valley, 
near the house and not far from where Col. Slocum was 
wounded. The Eighth Georgia regiment was on the skirm- 
ish line down the valley and there were two other regiments 
of Rebs in ambush; we did not see them until they opened 
fire upon us." 

THE CELEBRATION IN RUSHFORD OF THE TAK- 
ING OF RICHMOND 

H. J. W. G. 

THE news came that Richmond had been taken. Then 
suddenly there was a relaxation of the tension of 
four years. Men were beside themselves. They must cele- 
brate. Bonfires were built at intervals along Main Street, 
but the greatest one of all was in front of the Globe Hotel 
from which flowed spirits that gave enthusiasm to the oc- 
casion. It was night and the dark moving figures seemed 
like spectres against the monstrous fire. 

"Uncle Sam. Persons," full of joy, began to dance. He 
knew that it is written, "There is a time to dance," and he 
tliought if there ever was a time this was it. When a cer- 
tain man whose political ideas were not in accord with 
those of the celebrants was passing by, he was lifted wagon 
box and all onto the porch of the hotel. After a time 
he was allowed to pursue his journey. The next day he 

338 



Celebration of Taking of Richmond 

sought legal advice, only to be told that he had no cause 
for complaint, that he had been greatly honored by his com- 
patriots. A man highly esteemed in the community and 
owner of varied interests v^^as in a high state of patriotic en- 
thusiasm, adding much zest to the celebration. One who 
belonged to the professions and was respected by all, was 
in a new role that night, a bearer of liquid hilarity which 
he handed out in a dipper from a ten-quart pail. 

The fire was replenished, the flames leaped higher and 
with them rose the spirits of the celebrants. The sign-post 
with its square top, saying from its four sides "Globe Hotel" 
succumbed to the occasion and helped light the fires of 
liberty. The firewater flowed on. The crowd was jubilant. 
A minister of the gospel whose war speeches had helped to 
awaken the slumbering fires of patriotism, having strolled 
to the Globe as an onlooker, soon found himself douced 
with the fiery liquid which was causing so much exhilaration. 
A genial, warm-hearted fellow, one of the business men of 
the town, with a lighted cigar in his mouth was carrying 
a half-emptied keg of powder. Meeting a good doctor of 
the place, he said, "You take the powder; you're not smok- 
ing." Upon being accused of being a church member, he 
pointed to the bottle in his pocket, saying, "My religion is 
in here tonight." For a few hours pandemonium reigned, 
and the wonder is that no one was injured. 

When a substantial citizen returned home, his daughter- 
in-law said to him, "Why didn't you bring Jonathan?" "I 
had all I could do to get home myself," was the reply. Two 
men (they lived on Upper Street) went home that night in 
their right minds. 

So ended the celebration of the taking of Richmond, 
the end of a long and bloody struggle for the preservation 
of the Union and the freedom of the slaves. 

339 



X 

MUSIC 
HISTORY OF MUSIC 
Sophia Benjamin Taylor 

THE history of music would not be complete without a 
few words concerning the ministry of music. Music 
is a unifying force in family life, an inspiration for good 
in social life and the power of God in church life. The 
popular thing for the young people of fifty years ago was to 
"get together" and have a "sing." 

For lack of data the subject will be developed in a 
general way. It is stated in the records of the Baptist 
Church that in June, 1821, Oliver Butterfield was chosen 
standing chorister. The few people remaining to tell the 
story say that among the early worthies who pitched the 
tunes and led the singing were Daniel Woods, Levi Benja- 
min, Deacon Delano, the McCalls and the Beechers. The 
hymns were evangelistic in character and were sung more 
for the gospel they taught than for the music in them. 
The tuning fork helped to get the proper key. The human 
voice was the only channel of expression. Avery Washburn 
came to town in 1840 and was soon made chorister of the 
Methodist Episcopal choir; he also taught singing school 
and was interested in the music until he left town in 1865. 
Milton Woods was chosen to fill the vacancy. His genial 
nature and sweet voice made him popular as leader and in- 
structor. The Methodist choir has been served by him or 
some other Woods, with one short break, to the present time. 

In the early forties musical instruments began to be used 
in church service, the despised fiddle being the first, de- 

340 



History of Music 

spised, because of its association with the dance. Some of 
the Christian fathers objected strongly to its use. However, 
as usual, the singers liked to have their own way, and in 
the Baptist Church, Justin Delano played the violin accom- 
panied by his brother Chester on the bass viol. In a few 
years an instrument called the seraphim was installed -to 
swell the volume. Mrs. Daniel Leavens was the first player. 
The instrument was manufactured in a shop at East Rush- 
ford where Horatio R. Palmer was an apprentice. All these 
years the candlesticks had to be kept in shining order, both 
for singing school and church meetings, for if anyone ex- 
pected to see well he must have a candle. H the people of 
those early days were to speak of these things, they would 
tell of the old "Boston Academy" (the singing book used) 
with its buckwheat notes and fugue tunes. These were the 
days when Norman Beecher led the Presbyterian people in 
the service song, when "Auntie" Goff and Aunt Maria 
Benjamin delighted all listeners with their effective alto 
voices. 

The art reached its climax in the fifties when Rush ford 
Academy had a musical department in the Academy of 
Music ( the old Methodist Church ) where were three pianos 
in as many rooms on the first floor, and a vocal class taught 
two evenings a week during the school year in an assembly 
room on the second floor. Prof. J. Vickery was teacher 
for a time; when he left town H. R. Palmer took up the 
work with great vigor. He was leader in the Baptist choir, 
and was also instrumental in organizing a cornet band. 
In 1859 he brought out the '"Cantata of Queen Esther," tak- 
ing the part of king himself. Bowen Gordon took the part 
of Mordecai ; Asa Hardy, Haman; and Minerva Simpson. 
Queen Esther. It was a great success. 

Mr. Palmer, by his kindly disposition, endeared himself 

341 



Music 

to all his pupils. In 1861-2 he attended Bassino's Normal 
Music School at Geneseo. A year or two later he went out 
from Rushford to win for himself a name and a place among 
the most brilliant and successful composers of music and 
among the best equipped teachers in the country. His 
"Yield not to Temptation" which he sent back in leaflet 
form to the Sunday Schools has been translated into sev- 
eral languages. He became an eminent chorus leader, serv- 
ing annually at several Chautauquas. During his last visit 
at Rushford when speaking of his love for the town, he 
said for what he had accomplished in the world, he was in- 
debted to Elder Simpson and other friends in Rushford who 
stimulated him and made him believe in possibilities for 
himself. 

During these years, little by little, the opposition to 
musical instruments in the Methodist Church was over- 
come. The first instrument, after an occasional violin, was 
a little melodeon that one of the brethren loaned them. 
Finally Uncle William Gordon* signed the first ten dollars 
toward purchasing a larger instrument, provided they would 
not play between the verses. 

After Mr. Palmer's departure, Asa Hardy took the 
leadership of the Baptist choir, continuing in that position 
nearly twenty-five years. He loved music. Since his home- 
going Stephen Wilmot, Dean Gordon and Robert Warren, 
the present incumbent, have led in sacred song. 

Martha (Hardy) Claus, Julia Thompson, Alice (La- 
throp) Holden, Alice (WiUiams) Brecht, Lena Warren and 
others have kept alive the love and demand for good instru- 
mental music. The singers, the band and the orchestra of 

*It was at the solicitation of his granddaughter, Ellen E. Gor- 
don, who was inspired by her uncle, Avery Washburn, to ask him 
for a contribution. 

342 



The Rush ford Band 

Home Coming Week. August i6, 22, 1908, were witnesses 
of what has been and is still being done. 



THE RUSHFORD BAND 

SOMETIME away back in the thirties, over seventy years 
ago, the first blast of Rushford's pioneer brass band 
rolled up the log-fenced streets, down the corduroy avenues, 
and went singing through the original forests, till echoed 
back by the grand old sentinel hills. It was truly a gala 
day. Almost all the population of the striving, thriving 
hamlet were in the streets and dooryards. Rushford had a 
brass band, bringing joy and pride to every loyal heart, and 
it has hardly been without one since. Who were those pre- 
cious fellows who organized so much exultant harmony? 
Well, the leader was Ransom Dennison, one of the most 
consummate clarinet players ever heard in grand old Alle- 
gany. Men and women who remember him say no other 
player on that instrument, before or since, has ever tingled 
their nerves, ravished their ears and dissolved their souls 
as did he. The members of his band so far as ascertained 
were Archibald Adams, Harry Howe, James Jewell, Isaac 
Xoble, William Woodworth, Smith W. Tuller, Ely Gordon, 
J. B. Gordon, E. P. Lyon and Andrew Kimball. 

After a few years Mr. Dennison, who did not live in 
Rushford, was succeeded by Archibald Adams, who was the 
leader of what may be called the second band. It was com- 
posed of most of the members of the first band, to which 
were added Justin Palmer, a man of exquisite ear and taste, 
father of H. R. Palmer, Cyrus Gordon, Justin Delano, Cyrus 
Maxwell, Jedediah and Riley Hubbard, Lucius C. Kimball, 

Note — Arranged by S. E. Kilmer and A, J. Lyon from "The 
Rushford Band" with omissions and additions. 

343 



Music 

Arthur Hardy and Alfred Wier. In 1844 the band rode to 
ElHcottville in a hayrack to a big pohtical meeting to hear 
Millard Fillmore speak. There were sixteen members and 
they easily took first position in competition with a half- 
dozen other bands. INIr. Johnson, who was their teacher 
for a short time, led them upon that occasion. 

Rush ford was without a band about ten years. In 1857 
H. R. Palmer organized what was called Palmer's Band. 
The first band wagon was bought when H. R. Palmer was 
leader and Palmer's Rush ford Band was printed in large 
letters on each side. The original members of Palmer's 
Band were H. R. Palmer, Barnes Blanchard, Asa Hardy, 
DeWitt McDonald, Arthur Hardy, Horace Howe, Milton 
Woods, Eowen Gordon, George Howe and A. J. Lyon. 

Horace Howe took H. R. Palmer's place as leader of 
the band. Under the training of E. Prior of Corning the 
music increased in volume and expression. 

About i860 or '61 Asa Hardy, who had developed sur- 
prising mastery of the E flat or leading horn, became the 
leader and gave to the Rush ford Band a standing that was 
easily at the head of the band organizations in Allegany 
and nearby counties. Just who of the old members re- 
mained it is impossible to state for the nature of all bands 
is a continual change. The wonder is that an efficient or- 
ganization was ever maintained as it has been for so many 
years. Asa Hardy was leader and instructor of the band 
about twenty-five years. The members of his band for 
many years were Barnes Blanchard. Charles Howe, S. A. 
Hardy, D. C. McDonald. John Quinton, J. F. Wier. Lewis 
Ely, Clarence Hardy. Irving Flardy. M. M. Tarbell. Albert 
Bishop and .A. J. Lyon. The veteran drummer, A. J. Lyon, 
still remains on duty. During the skating-rink craze in 1884 
a few of the band under the leadership of Charles Howe 

.^44 



i 



The Rush ford I'and 

furnished music at tlic rink in the hasement of W. W. Mer- 
rill's hardware store. 

]n i<S85 a new organization was perfected with the per- 
sonnel of (jeorge Parker, W. F. Wells, H. A. Holden, C. 
C. Colburn, John Quinton, H. E. Tarbell. W. P. Peck, Bur- 
ton Hardy, Grant Woods, Homer Adams, M. M. Tarbell, 
A. I. Lyon. S. A. Hardy and W. F. Benjamin. Asa 
Hardy was then in poor health and died the following 
year. W. F. Benjamin, who had been in the band since 
1876, taking Barnes Blanchard's place, was chosen leader, 
a position he has held to the present time (1908), excepting 
a few years when William Jenks was leader. Prof. L. F. 
Willey of Nunda was engaged as instructor and under his 
excellent training the band reached its highest proficiency. 

The following were the members after ten years had 
passed : Otis White, William Jenks, Merl Jenks, W. G. 
Thomas, W. H. Woods, Royce Kyes, Talcott Brooks, Clar- 
ence Thomas, W. W. Thomas, William Ingleby, Jr., A. J. 
Lyon, D. W. Woods and W. F. Benjamin. The band paid 
out in ten years one thousand dollars for instruments, new 
uniforms, a band wagon, services of instructor, music, etc. 
Some of the money was earned by playing at picnics, fairs 
and celebrations, and some of it was raised by having ice- 
cream festivpls. Public-spirited citizens contributed means 
to build the handsome pagoda on the Academy lawn. It is 
one of the finest in Western New York. The uniforms of 
the Rush ford Cornet Band was West Point cadet, viz., grey 
trimmed with black. They had a fine band wagon drawn 
by two well-matched teams ; on the heads of the horses 
were plumes, the best that money could buy. 

Rushford has always been noted for its good drum- 
mers. A. J. Lyon played the small drum and Miles Tarbell, 
whose time was like clockwork, played the bass drum. A. 

345 



Music 

J. I.yon has been a member of the band over fifty years 
and is one of three original members of Palmer's Band 
now living; the other two are DeWitt C. McDonald and 
Bowen Gordon. Arthur Hardy always sat in the band 
wagon with one foot out ready to jump if anything hap- 
pened. Bowen Gordon always took time to spit when 
playing, and as he is rather moderate the band would often 
play one strain before Bowen was ready. Charles Howe 
was an artist on the B flat cornet, but he always had a girl 
on the string and was not always in his place when the band 
was ready to play. After waiting a long time and blowing 
several calls Charles would turn up very deliberately. Like 
the fellow that was going to be hung, he knew they could 
not do anything till he got there. He was at one time the 
only single man in the band. One very cold day the band 
started for Arcade to hold a concert. Henry Hyde was 
riding with his wife in a cutter behind the band; suddenly 
one of the band said "Henry Hyde is freezing." His wife 
had not realized his condition. He was helpless, but by 
heroic treatment they succeeded in restoring him. They 
failed, however, to fill the bill at Arcade. 

The Rushford Band had an established rule not to allow 
any member to indulge in anything while on duty that was 
detrimental to the interests or the morals of the band. Their 
reputation was such that their services were in demand in 
all parts of this county as well as in adjoining ones. 

Music is as old as man and good music is one of the 
signs of high civilization. It is to the credit of any com- 
munity to be noted for musical attaiments. The band has 
helped to educate the young, and has been a delight and a 
solace to all classes. 



346 



THE RUSHFORD CORNET BAND. 

F. E. Woods 

Tune, My Maryland 

We've honored here with praises high, 

The deeds of men in days gone by. 
Who left a noble heritage 

That grows with each succeeding age; 
Withhold not praise for place they won, 

Give honor due to every one. 
High on that roll of worthies stand 

The names of Rush ford's Cornet Band. 

O, have you heard the Rush ford Band 

Render our national anthem grand? 
They raise the patriots' spirits high 

With memories that never die; 
In sweetest strains they speak to me 

Of home and friends and liberty. 
And sound them still throughout the land, 

O, Rushford Band! O, Rushford Band! 

A pebble dropped into the sea, 

Its waves roll through immensity. 
The notes sent forth into the sky, 

They echo still and never die. 
O, let me hear those strains once more, 

That charmed the hearts in days of yore. 
And listening ear it doth command 

The music of the Rushford Band. 

When vict'ry and peace our arms had crowned 
How swiftly sped the joyful sound ! 

347 



Music 

The crowds poured in from miles around 
And booming cannon shook the ground ; 

O, then we heard the oft demand, 

"Bring out the Band," "Bring out the Band!" 

They struck the notes of Freedom's land 
Were patriots all, that Rushford Band. 

Election times when candidate 

Told people how he'd save the State, 
The school-terms close when graduate — 

Essays we heard, heard youths orate; 
Occasions oft throughout the year. 

When music heightened festive cheer, 
How welcome then, to have at hand 

The service of the cornet band ! 

Passed fifty years, again we meet 

With loving words each other greet; 
But some have gone beyond the skies 

When heavenly anthems joyful rise; 
Play sweetly soft for them once more, 

Who rise in memory o'er and o'er, 
They wait to extend the welcome hand. 

O, glorious band ! celestial band ! 



348 



XI 

OUR BELLS 

H. J. W. G. 

ABOUT seventy years ago the inhabitants of Rushford 
desired a bell, so a subscription paper was circulated 
and a bell was purchased. After some discussion as to the 
most suitable place, it was hung in the belfry of the Baptist 
Church. The following lines were composed at the time: 
"The Baptist Church has got a bell, 

And E. L. Davis rings it, 
Elder Miner reads the hymn. 
And Eliab Benjamin sings it." 
Tradition says that a hundred silver dollars put into 
the molten mass out of which the bell was cast, give it its 
sweet tone. In the first years it was rung at five for ap- 
prentices to rise, at nine for school, at twelve for nooning, 
and at nine at night for apprentices to cease work. 

Every Lord's Day it seems to say "Come worship God," 
and each Thursday evening it calls to the house of prayer. 
Sometimes in the night, awakened by its agitated tones 
people have looked out of the window to see a strange light 
and to hear the excited cry, "Fire, fire!" It is a patriotic 
bell. At midnight ushering in the ever glorious Fourth, it 
peals out liberty, liberty, until the people of the town long- 
ing for "a little more slumber, a little more sleep," wonder 
if it will never cease. It is not a partisan bell for whether 
the political victory celebrated be Republican or Democratic, 
the jubilant tones of the bell mingle with the shouting and 
the sound of cannon. But how fearful it was in days gone 
by to hear ten rapid strokes of the bell, then three or four 

349 



Our Bells 

moderate ones, followed by the solemn striking of the age 
by tens ! Death was in the midst. 

The question of purchasing a town clock came up. 
There was a division of opinion as to the wisdom of pur- 
chasing one. Some said, "Let us buy a town clock," others 
said, "We need fire engines." The town clock people won. 
When the first Globe Hotel caught fire, the "Antis" cried out, 
"Bring on your town clock and put out the fire." On one 
occasion the faithful bell failed. The bridal party was ready, 
waiting for the hour of twelve to strike before entering the 
church, and it did not strike. The next week the village 
paper came out with : "The town clock should be ashamed 
to show its face after the caper it cut up last week." 

How dear to many over this broad land is the Academy 
bell, and what memories throng at the thought of its sound ! 
Since it was hung in the belfry, three generations have en- 
tered the portals at its call, and passed out of the world. 
"Some are married, some are dead, 
All are scattered now and fled." 

This Presbyterian bell has changed its creed and its 
town for it now rings in the Wesleyan Church in Houghton. 

The deep tones of the bell in the tower of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church were heard for the first time on the after- 
noon of December 14, 1906-. The movement to purchase a 
bell was publicly started by A. W. Litchard who planned to 
have one in memory of Milton Woods, whose voice had 
been heard so many times within the walls of the church and 
at the burial of the dead, but before it was secured he too 
passed on, so the bell was inscribed with the names of Mil- 
ton M. Woods, the sweet singer, and Alamanzo W. Litchard, 
the Sunday School Superintendent. 

"Those Rushford bells, those Rushford bells, 
How many a tale their music tells !" 
350 



XII 
REMINISCENCES 

Maria Benjamin, daughter of James Gordon, Jr. 

I came to Rushford, Allegany County, in 1814. My father 
came in 181 1 from Vermont. In iSio some of the 
Gordons came. They cut down trees and made some log 
cabins in the winter of 1810-11. Tarbel Gordon went back 
to Vermont that winter. He came back here and the rest 
of the Gordons with him, only their father; he came in 1815. 
Mr. Morgan came in 181 1 when the Gordons came. He 
made his home north of Cuba. 

In 1817 my mother and hired girl and one little child 
besides myself were going through the woods from Bowen 
Gordon's farm to the old Metcalf farm, then Daniel Ely's 
farm, when a fox crossed the path a little way from us. 
That was the first fox that I ever saw. 

In August, 1817, I had a little brother die. He was 
the first dead person I ever saw. I thought he was asleep 
and wondered that mother did not put him on the bed. 

For a few years we had a great variety of music, not on 
the organ but in the woods. In the evening we could stand 
outside the door and hear south of the house an owl sing, 
"who, who, who, who-o-o-o," then north of the house the 
chorus "hah, hah, hah, ah-ah-ah-ah." The owl south of 
the house sang soprano, the one north alto. Next a fox 
would bark a little way from the barn ; a little farther off the 
wolves would howl. Sometimes they would make a horrid 
noise. I think the wolves sang bass, while the fox sang 

35^ 



Reminiscences 

tenor. November ii, 1820, father went out to the barn 
in the morning and found two sheep the wolves had killed 
in the night. I think those were all that he lost by them. 
In 1821 father sent me through the woods to one of the 
neighbors ; I had got part way through the woods when I 
heard a little noise and turned my head to see what it was ; 
well, about three rods from me were three wolves looking at 
me. They went oif one way and I went on my way to the 
place I had started for. When I came back I did not see 
them. I was not afraid of them as I had never heard of 
their hurting anyone. ISears were not very plentiful here in 
those days, but one day T was standing out doors a little 
way from the house and I saw an old bear come out of the 
woods and walk across a little pasture to another piece of 
woods. That was the only wild bear I ever saw. Deer 
were very plenty then. They would come into the pasture 
and eat grass with the cows. One day father went out to 
the edge of the woods and found an old deer and a little 
fawn standing by her ; when the fawn saw him it lay down 
close to its mother ; he took it up and brought it to the house. 
I taught it to drink milk. It grew to be a large deer. Then 
father sold it because it was so full of mischief. 

In 1817 a Methodist minister came to Rushford. He 
came to my father's house. His name was Story. He was 
the first minister I ever saw. I think he was a missionary. 
In 1820 he came here to preach. His first name was Cyrus. 
He had a campmeeting that summer. It must have been 
near where Mrs. Elbert Hardy's house* now stands. 

At that time from the corner where Mr. Taylor's store 
stands to the Baptist parsonagef was a swamp. Logs were 
cut and laid down for a bridge for teams to cross on ; then 

*Now owned and occupied by Abel M. Tarbell. 
fNow owned and occupied by Miss Ellen E. Gordon. 

352 



Reminiscences 

north of this there were logs laid the other way for people 
to walk on. What a change! In the place of forests, 
churches and schoolhonses. All this because the people had 
a mind to work. Years ago we did not hear little girls say, 
"O, I am so tired I don't know what to do." Never until I 
was over thirty-five years old did I hear a woman say, "I am 
so nervous I can't work." 

I have some pieces of a dress and an apron that I wore 
to school when I was a little girl. The cloth was made from 
flax that grew on Bowen Gordon's farm. My mother spun 
it and colored it. 

I remember the first murder that was committed in Al- 
legany County, but I don't remember the date. My father 
was going to see How hung. He got almost ready to go, 
then he thought he could not see a man hung by the neck 
till he was dead, so he staid at home. In 1832 there were 
six cases of typhus fever in Rush ford. One little girl died 
of it. I think it was in 1825 that Cyrus Eaton was killed in 
the Pine Woods where they were cutting trees for lumber. 
The tree struck another tree ; that threw the butt around and 
struck him on the head, killing him instantly. I have always 
remembered the text that was used at the funeral. It was, 
"Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the 
Son of man cometh." 

I remember one little incident that happened when I 
was eight or nine years old. My father was coming down 
town to Thursday night prayer meeting. I asked him if I 
could go with him. He said "Yes, if you want to." It was. 
light when we went down. There was no moon, so it was 
dark when we came home. The wolves were howling in 
diflferent directions. We were not afraid of their noise. 
When we were near a quarter of a mile from home we had 
to turn from the road and walk through the woods by a 

353 



Reminiscences 

little footpath. Father said, "I don't know whether I can 
follow the path." I stepped in front of him and said, "I 
■can." I had been through there several times. I looked up 
at the tops of the trees. I had learned the shape of the open- 
ings. In one place one-half of one tree top was broken off. 
All the light came through these little openings. If I had 
looked down I could not have followed the path. So long 
as I looked up I was all right. I thought then father meant 
what he said. I think now he said it to see what I would 
■do or say. When Noah was in the ark he could see light 
only when he looked up. That is the way to get the true 
light. 

In the year 1841 we had a very early spring, snow gone, 
roads dry. The month of April was like summer. There 
were thunder-showers and it was very warm. The trees 
leaved out. It was about the tenth or twelfth of May when 
we had a snow storm, then a freeze that killed all the leaves 
on the trees. They leaved out the second time. 

July II, 1848, at two o'clock in the morning Rev. Harris' 
little boy died. Four o'clock the same morning Mrs. Nancy 
Gordon Rowley died. Both of them were carried to the 
church. That was the only time I ever saw two caskets in 
the church at the same time. 

I think those old settlers were a more neighborly class 
of people than the people of the present day. Then if one 
were sick the others would turn out and help them. Now 

Note — The first execution in Allegany County occurred on the 
third Friday of March, 1824, when David How was hung in Angelica 
for shooting and killing Othello Church in his own house in the 
town of Friendship. Ten thousand people were present at the exe- 
cution. Because of the circumstances preceding the murder much 
sympathy was expressed for How. 

The following were among the members of the grand jury 
which indicted How : Freeman S. Wilson, Charles Swift, Horatio 
Smith, Levi Benjamin, Matthew P. Cady, Daniel Woods, Salmon 
Chamberlain and John Hammond. 

354 



Wolves 

if one is sick perhaps their next door neighbors won't see 
them for weeks ; but One said "Inasmuch as ye did it not to 
one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it not to me." 



WOLVES 

THE father of Laura Scott Straight moved onto the 
farm now owned by Walter Howard when she was 
quite young, seventy-five or eighty years ago. Her father 
had fifteen or twenty sheep killed by wolves in one night, 
and about the same time she saw two wolves one day while 
on her way to school. She thought they were dogs but an 
older child by the name of Belknap who was with her, knew 
them to be wolves. One night Mrs. Straight's father was 
taken suddenly ill and a man by the name of Lowell Wright 
who was at their home said he would go for a doctor. On 
going to the barn for a horse he saw something lying by the 
barn door which proved to be a wolf. But the wolf was as 
frightened as the man and both ran as fast as possible 
though in opposite directions. She sometimes on moonlight 
nights saw wolves in the distance and frequently heard their 
howling. She distinctly remembers one night when there 
seemed to be many more than usual in the vicinity and their 
howls were so loud and seemed so near that the children of 
the family were much alarmed. But the noise gradually be- 
came fainter, and from that time they scarcely heard any- 
thing of them. It almost seemed as if many had gathered 
in that place and were holding council as to the advisability 
of seeking a new home in less inhabited regions. 

Before her people came to Rush ford the farm where 
they lived was occupied by Amos Rose. He was putting 

Note. — Reminiscences of Mrs. Laura Scott Straight, writ- 
ten by Mrs. Julia Williams Straight. 

355 



Reminiscences 

a new floor in his house and had it completed with the ex- 
ception of a few boards. While the floor was in this un- 
finished condition Mrs. Rose went to a neighbor's and when 
she returned she saw in the cellar underneath the incom- 
plete floor what she thought was a dog. But when she spoke 
to him he raised his head and she saw it was a wolf. She was 
alone and considerably frightened but fortunately remem- 
bered that there was a loaded gun in the house, so she got it 
and killed the wolf. There was a bounty paid at that time 
for each one killed, so she got money enough to buy a fine 
string of gold beads. 



RECOLLECTIONS 
Ellen White Hubbell 

I first saw the light of day in the' White house on Upper 
Street in 1831. In my childhood days, on that street, 
were three stores : one, on the north corner of Main and 
Upper Streets, kept by Orville Boardman ; another, on the 
south corner of Main and Upper Streets, kept by Oramel 
Griffin; and another, just north of J. G. Benjamin's present 
home, kept by Charles Gilman. The postoffice was in Mr. 
Boardman's store. North of the house where Mrs. Carrie 
Swetland now lives was a red and white checkered grocery 
kept by "Square" Hewitt. Two taverns accommodated 
the public : one, run by Cephas Young, was near the site 
of J. G. Benjamin's home; the other, run by Harmon Knick- 
erbocker, faced Main Street. James Thirds had a tailor 
shop south of William VanDusen's present home ; Osborn 
and Gilbert, a blacksmith shop, north of J. G. Osborn's 
house; and my father, Samuel White, a foundry, just above 
our home on land now owned by Mrs. Ida White Woods, 

356 



Recollections 

where plows, sled-runners and other castings were manu- 
factured. Upper Street (Commercial Street) was a busy 
thoroughfare. 

The first term of school which I attended was in a 
schoolhouse near the Methodist Church. Soon after, the 
district school house was built under the hill on the road 
to Gordonville. I can recall only two of the teachers of this 
school that are now living, Mr. Avery Washburn of Topeka, 
Kansas, and Mrs. Amanda Rood* of Salt Lake City. Those 
were happy days. The young folks of the neighborhood en- 
joyed the paring-bees, the spelling schools and other social 
gatherings. So few of the large number are left, Mrs. 
Helen Laning, Mrs. Nancy DeKay and myself of the girls, 
and Wilson Gordon, George Whitef and Copeland Gordon 
of the boys nearest our age. 

Two events that occurred on our street made a strong 
impression on my mind. One of them was the leaving by 
the stork of a little girl at the red White house, and on the 
same day the leaving of another at Mr. Gilman's where New- 
man Woods now lives. I didn't like it because they weren't 
both left at the White house. One of the girls was after- 
wards Mrs. Stellah Blanchard, the other is Mrs. Cornelia 
Green of Olean. The other event, which occurred a number 
of years later, was an invitation to a wedding at Oramel 
Griffin's to witness the nuptialsj of Achsah Griffin and Mr. 
Champlain of Cuba. 

The first physician I well remember was Dr. Smith. 
I can see him now on horseback with his saddle bags. The 
sight of him coming was a terror to us children, because we 
surely would have to be bled. 

*Died February 21, igio. 

fDied in October, 1909. 

JThe marriage occurred June 2, 1846. 

357 



Reminiscences 

The Dolands settled in our district for a short time, 
then thev bought a home on Lower Street, in the west 
district. 'They were a family whom "to know was to love 
and to name was to praise." ^ 

The town had some people who were eccentric. Mort 
Pratt was a kind-hearted man, always ready to help the 
needy, but he was very profane. His brother "Tom" was a 
devout Christian. On being asked why it was he would 
swear so, when his brother was a praying man, he said, "O 
Tom prays a little, and I swear a little, but we don't either 
of us mean anything." (1908.) 



M 



REMINISCENQES OF RUSHFORD 

CorneUa Oilman Green 

Y recollections carry me back to childhood days, when 
* . ^ my dear parents were invited to parties, and sister 
and I were left in the motherly care of Auntie Young, who 
was ever ready to do kind deeds. 

Mehitable, Mary and Charles Smith were among our 
near neighbors. Are any of them living? There were Mr. 
James Thirds, with his tailor shop and Auntie Thirds, with 
her lovely hats. I imagined the flowers grew on the almond 
shrubs that were in her yard. Nancy and Belle are still 
living and should be here today. Of the Parker family 
not many are left. The Carpenters, with Miss Caroline 
Smith, who became Mrs. Adolphus Scrogs, I have visited 
in their Buffalo home. Next, the dearest of all, were the 
Eemingtons. Who could ever forget the musical family, 
the father, the son Samuel and my loved friend Marcia, 
who became Mrs. Wilson Gordon. On trips to Podunk, or 
the Woods settlement, where the Remingtons taught sing- 

35« 



Reminiscences of Rush ford 

ing school, noble-hearted Cyrus Gordon used to take us 
over with his handsome team of horses. A jollier party 
could not be found ; we sang all the way over and back. I 
am thankful for those happy days for sad ones came later 
to all, and the memory of those days seem all the brighter. 
In the White family, Stella, or Mrs. Blanchard, was my own 
age, and we celebrated our birthdays together. 

Mrs. Osborn was a very dear friend of my mother's, 
and was beloved by all. My admiration for horses was. 
increased every time I saw Mr. Osborn with his fine team. 
Mr. Lyman Congdon always had a habit when he met me 
as a little girl, of raising me in his arms, giving me a kiss 
and setting me down again. 

The postofifice on the corner was owned by the Board- 
man family. I don't remember the postoffice being anywhere 
else. Across the way was the home of Oramel Griffin ; it was 
a great treat to be invited to there ... to hear Miss Achsah, 
later Mrs. Marshall B. Champlain, play on the piano. Who 
could ever forget the courtly Lanings? Both looked as if 
they had stepped out of an old time picture. This allusion 
calls up Mrs. Bonham Laning and her old friend, Cynthia 
Woodworth, just as I saw them in my girlhood days, with 
their never-to-be-forgotten pink and blue hats, so coquettish 
and becoming that we forgot our Sunday School lessons in 
admiration of the hats and the faces under them. 

Next in memory is Aunt Clarissa Griffin, who, when 
she laughed, shook everybody around her. Who remem- 
bers "Grandpa" Hammond, the deaf man who regularly 
attended the Presbyterian Church? In the kindness of his 
heart he made for sister and me some little benches for 
our swinging feet to rest upon, surprising us one Sunday 
morning as we were about to sing, "Lord, in the morning 



359 



Reminiscences 

Thon shalt hear my voice ascending high." My thanks 
■went higher than usual that morning. Dear, good Father 
Hajninond ! 

I cannot omit speaking of our singing teacher, Horatio 
(Palmer, whom we had hoped would be with us today. I 
must also speak of the Bradley family. Juliette and Au- 
gusta were playmates never to be forgotten. I also recall 
Addison Freeman, Isaac Bradley, and Harrison Noble who 
imarried Aldura Bell. Later she became mother-in-law of 
-our excellent Governor Higgins. 

Annie Stewart, good motherly soul, could never be for- 
tgotten, nor John, her son, one of the brightest boys in 
school. We prophesied for him a bright future, but he 
•died young. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Norton claim a place in our mem- 
ory. A letter received from Mrs. Norton since the death 
of her husband shows her mental faculties still unimpaired ; 
it is a beautiful letter and highly prized. Judge McCall, 
his wife and large family were among the friends of old 
time. Judge Lyon, whom my father admired for his good 
sense. Uncle Bill Gordon and Samson Hardy were among 
my father's friends, also Harmon Hyde. 

Time forbids my mentioning more, except Orrin Trail 
Higgins, whom my father loved as his own son. He began 
his business career in Rushford with my father when very 
young. Fie possessed noble principles, devotion to business 
and uprightness in all the relations of life, as well as other 
fine traits of manhood. 



360 



RECOLLECTIONS 
B. J. Jewell 

MY recollections date back no further than 1833, when 
Rush ford was composed of Upper and Lower Streets 
with now and then a house between them; at times rivalry 
ran high between the two localities. Lower Street had such 
men as Bates Turner Hapgood, Israel Thompson, Samson 
Hardy, Joseph Bell, Esq. Cady, Isaiah Lathro]). John 
Holmes, Chapman Brooks, Nathaniel James, Rufus Jewell 
and John and William Merryfield, all very straight-laced 
men, with a temperance hotel in their end of the town ; 
while Upper Street had Mr. Boardman, Mr. Knickerbocker, 
Oramel Griffin, Esq. White, True Swift, Cephas Young, 
Wm. Woodworth, John Osborn and others, with two hotels 
"kept respectively by Mr. Young and Mr. Knickerbocker 
which were not considered quite up to the standard of morals 
of Lower Street. 

Some parts of Division Street, as I shall now call it, 
were at the time fenced with rails. In front of Dr. Wm. 
Smith's residence, the doctor's mare was often hitched to 
the top rail of the fence. While hitched there one day, Mrs. 
Thompson came up the street and was about to get over the 
fence, when the mare sprang back with the rail which hit 
her on the side of the head, injuring her quite badly. An- 
other peculiarity of the mare was that when the doctor 
turned her out to graze, she would lop her ears and chase 
him. 

Rush ford and vicinity at this time and along in the 
forties could be divided into classes. One class could see 
nothing on Sunday but a church spire, but always shut their 
€yes when the contribution box came around, although they 
made lavish requests to the Great Giver for good situations 

361 



Reminiscences 

after this life. The other class made few professions and 
tried to get all the pleasures that nature affords. They were 
visitors at Rush ford village on Saturdays and their head- 
quarters were usually at Cephas Young's tavern on Upper 
Street where they would read newspapers and tell stories of 
pioneer life. Of course during their afternoon exercises one 
of them might get ducked in Knickerbocker's watering 
trough if a good opportunity was presented. 

A class of every-day Christians were Wm. Gordon, Sr., 
Mr. Goff, Daniel Woods, Oliver Jenison and Judge McCall. 

I will present pictures of two brothers who were among 
the pioneers ; one is in the woods at a camp meeting, singing 
and shouting, the other at a circus being hoisted on the 
shoulders of his nephews, with nothing on but a palm-leaf 
hat, linen pants, and cotton shirt open at the neck, barefoot, 
whooping and laughing. Which gets the more out of life? 

From 1838 to 1850 and later, Rushford had more than 
its quota of intelligent men and women, but of her present 
population, modesty forbids me to speak. Rushford has long 
since become the home of retired farmers. 

REMINISCENCES 

Mrs. Esther B. Woods Eldridge 

THE Caneadea Indians often visited Rushford. They 
would shake the big pockets worn by the women to 
see if a coin would be given them for whiskey. One called 
on "Uncle Daniel" for some for a sick toe. Uncle thought 
it no go, but Shongo said the whiskey he would drink and 
it would go kerchunk, chunk, chunk, right down to his toe. 
Mother learned to talk with them, much to our amusement. 
Sometimes they would sing and dance around us and give a 

362 



Reminiscences 

whoop and take ofif our scalps, which though it frightened, 
amused us. 

As to food in those days, I did not hear any complaint, 
though they could all repeat. 

"Bean porridge hot, bean porridge cold. 
Bean porridge in the pot nine days old." 

In 1828 when I arrived there was no scarcity at our 
house. There were always maple sugar in the tub, pork in 
the barrel, chicken and lamb for a change, and veal in the 
springtime. Milk, butter and cheese, cornmeal and flour 
were seldom wanting. Partridges were plenty in the woods, 
the streams abounded in trout, and no one froze for want 
of firewood. As late as 1835 or '40 bears were captured and 
I saw deer feeding in our pastures. 

In the year 18 13 the cannonading of Perry's victory 
on Lake Erie was heard in Rushford, and often on a still 
morning the roar of Niagara Falls was distinctly heard by 
the acute ears of early risers. 

In the winter, sap troughs and spouts were made so 
as to be in readiness when the sap commenced to run. But 
didn't the Vermonters laugh when an Irishman did not hurry 
into his sugar camp, but said if he liked the business he 
should keep it up all summer. 

Our amusements were elections, town meetings, train- 
ing days, campmeetings, logging bees, husking bees and 
quiltings. Our conveyance in the winter consisted of two 
oxen and a sled, and there were no accidents, excepting an 
occasional tip-over into a snowdrift. I remember that 
mother said that one time she sat in a rocking-chair on a 
sled and as they were going up a hill, her chair slid off, but 
she was so overcome by laughter that she could not call 
father who was driving the oxen. On reaching the top of 

363 



Reminiscences 

the hill, he was greatly surprised to see his load at the 
bottom. 

Sometimes there was danger in burning off a wood lot. 
You might be surrounded by fire or your cattle might. When 
Mr. Hill came from England he said he thought it was 
wicked to burn up such beautiful trees. He and his wife 
were lovely Christians and a great help to the church. 

My Grandmother Gary was noted for her wit, and 
many are the anecdotes concerning her I have heard from 
people who were acquainted with her. I was her namesake. 
She said they always named the homeliest after her; but 
she never forgot my birthday and always had a nice gift 
for me. The visits of my grandparents to our country 
home were great occasions, for they never forgot to bring 
candy and sweetmeats. 



REMINISCENCES OF PODONQUE 
Esther B. Woods Eldridge — Clarissa Woods Calkins 

IN the early history of the town Podonque was called the 
Woods Settlement, and the cemetery was called the 
Woods Cemetery. Daniel Woods donated the land for the 
burial place, and Riley Woods' daughter Fanny was the, 
first one buried there. The name Podonque was given by 
a debating club formed in that school district by Daniel 
Leavens, Watson Woods, Dodge Persons, Ira and John 
Bishop, Horace Babbitt, Nehemiah Horton and other young 
men of their ages. This club flourished between the year's 
1S30-45. The French language was quite popular at that 
time and H. C. Woods says that some wanted to spell it 
Peaudonque but finally it was decided to make it a little 
more like English and spell it Podonque. A man from the 

364 



Reminiscences of Podonque 

western portion of the town in speaking of the debating 
club said that some of them became so accustomed to par- 
liamentary style of language that in after years when the 
wife of one of them pulled his hair severely, he shouted 
"Elegantine, desist." 

One of the best families who lived in that neighbor- 
hood in the early days, was Mr. and Mrs. Swallow. She 
was a niece of the renowned Ethan Allen of Vermont. 
Their daughter Fanny was well educated and a great reader. 
She could debate learnedly on any question of the day, and 
was better posted in politics than most of the men. She 
married Gilbert Wheeler. Their grandson, Clyde Wheeler, 
was graduated from Rush ford High School in 1903 and is 
now a lawyer in Youngstown, Ohio. 

I'ncle Daniel Woods, as he was called by all the peo- 
ple about there, deserved much credit for the wide-awake 
Methodism he introduced into the town. He prayed and 
sung and exhorted the people, and his rich sonorous voice 
resounded over hill and dale for three miles. The "first 
white woman" was converted through his preaching and 
lived the happy life of a Christian about fifty years. She 
fell asleep in Jesus in 1869. Although she had an older 
sister and was only nine years old when her father came to 
Kushford, he left the other women of the family in Center- 
ville and took her along to cook the "boiled dinner" for the 
men who built the log house. She was ever ready and willing 
to do all that she could, and the text that the Rev. E. A. 
Rice took at her funeral was very appropriate — "She hath 
done what she could." 

Elder Warren Bannister was an early Methodist 
preacher. He had an ingenious way of making comparisons, 
declaring in one of his sermons that when Methodist and 
Baptist preachers got to arguing on doctrines (which they 

365 



Reminiscences 

often did years ago) it was like a hen scratching a skein 
of yarn, the more she scratches, the more it snarls. 

The mothers of the Woods boys (Daniel, Ely, Riley, 
William and Albert) and the Bannister boys (Warren, Pliny, 
Roderick and Wayne) had a brother who was a noted school 
teacher. His name was Abishai Ely, but he was called by 
his relatives "Uncle Bish." His name was a household 
word with the Woods boys, and their children were never 
tired of hearing about him and his unique way of punishing 
his pupils. He made them chew wormwood or sit on the 
end of a ruler. It seemed as if his knowledge knew no 
bounds. T heard Col. Fuller say as late as our Civil War 
that if he desired information on any subject he always wrote 
to "Uncle Bish Ely." 

The tooting of a dinner horn at any other time of the 
day than noon was understood in the Woods Settlement 
as an alarm of fire or other calamity, so when Ely Woods 
was digging a well and the pet mare slipped in backwards, 
"Aunt Nancy" took down the dinner horn and standing at 
the head of the horse to keep her quiet, tooted for the neigh- 
bors who soon came and landed the beast safe above ground. 

RUSHFORD REMINISCENCES 
Harrison L. Wilson 

MY earliest recollections of Rushford are visits that we 
used to pay my grandfather, Joshua Wilson, when 
I would go with my father, Lewis Wilson, mother and my 
eldest sister, Harriet (afterwards Mrs. Benjamin Cooley), 
from Caneadea (where I was born) to stay a day or two or 
longer. After Hannah, my youngest sister, was born (she 
became the wife of Dr. Palmer of Pike), I do not remember 
that we went so often for she was only three years old 

366 



Rushford Reminiscences 

when my father died in 1834. About two years after father 
died, mother went to hve with grandfather, for grandmother 
was an invahd and sister Harriet had been doing most of 
their work for some time. Grandfather's wife (his second) 
was my mother's own mother and they were married before 
my own parents were. Mother therefore kept the house and 
I was with them a short time when arrangements were made 
for me to stay with Ohver Benjamin's family, relatives of 
ours, for a while. I was to go to school, and soon found I 
could make myself useful between times, feeding and water- 
ing the stock, milking the cows, sawing wood, etc. One task 
was that of gathering stones from the orchard and meadows, 
even to the size of a chestnut. I was kept busy but I enjoyed 
the work and had a good time. My first remembrances of 
Rushford as a boy ten years old are very pleasant indeed, 
and I guess the family were satisfied on their part for when 
spring came they wanted me to stay through the summer. 

In November, 1837, when I was eleven years old, I first 
came to live in Rushford village as a boy of all work for 
Joseph Bell, tanner, currier and shoemaker, whose trades I 
was expected to learn. His house and tannery were located 
on the west side of the lower street on the east bank of the 
creek, about twenty-five rods north of the Main Street 
bridge. John Merrifield* lived north of Mr. Bell, and he 
and his brother Williamf had a cabinet shop just opposite 
Mr. Bell's house, making a general line of furniture and 
having one apprentice. John's wife was Cassandra Rawson; 
William married Sophia Gordon. Grover Leavens and an 
apprentice, Rufus Jewel, by name, were making chairs in 
Merryfield's shop, the turning being done by a foot lathe, 
boys who would tread the lathe were welcome visitors. I 

*He lived in the house now owned by Miss Louisa Gilbert. 
fHe lived on Main Street in the house now owned by Mrs. R. 
B. Laning. 

Z(i7 



Reminiscences 

remember seeing a large load of chairs starting out one 
evening to go to Lima Seminary, driven by Chester Delano, 
It was inferred that these were a contribution from Israel 
Thompson, a blacksmith of Rushford who was a prominent 
Methodist. Mr. Thompson had a blacksmith shop and a 
wagon shop combined. Alpheus Howser (grandfather of 
Charles Alpheus Howser of Rochester) was his apprentice, 
Alpheus Howser married Martha Woodworth, and her 
sister, Helen Woodworth, married Boneham Laning, brother 
of A. P. Laning, a prominent lawyer of Buffalo who then 
lived in Rushford. One event I remember in connection 
with Mr. Thompson was a contract made by the man who 
afterwards became the Rev. Asa Saxe to build for him ten 
one-horse lumber wagons. Jacob Saxe was brother to Asa. 
Their home was in Madison County, I think, but while in 
Rushford they lived with their uncle, Mr. Persons, and 
with others with whom they had dealings. Jacob being a 
Universalist minister, I suppose Asa studied with him. They 
picked up a fellow by the name of Reynolds in Cuba who also 
studied with Jacob and became a remarkable preacher for a 
boy, and a green looking boy at that. Harriet Benjamin 
called him a phenomenon. 

Patrick Cady, the renowned mail-stage driver, lived 
across the street with his father and brothers, keeping some 
fine horses. For a number of years he drove the mail stage 
from Burrville to Farmersville, stopping at Rushford. When 
I was a child at Burrville, I was much impressed by his four- 
horse coach. The horses were exceptionally well groomed 
and decorated with tassels projecting from the head stalls 
just below the ear; these tassels were clean and white, being 
made from the lower end of a cow's tail, and the long white 
hairs waved backward in the wind. The outfit made a fine 
appearance and created much admiration all along the route 

368 



Rush ford Reminiscences 

which of course was through Rush ford village. The way- 
bill used to read "mail way-bill from Jamestown to Bath." 
Three mail routes centered at Rurrville ; one to Angelica, 
one to Farmersville and one to Pike. 

Samson Hardy had a farm just north of us, opposite 
the creek road. He was a pillar in the Baptist Church, and 
my half-brother, Eri Wilson (son of my father's first wife,, 
who was living with his grandfather Freeman in the town 
of Rushford on the Allegany road), thought much of him. 
Among his children were two sons, Arthur and Webster,, 
and two daughters, Martha and Lucy. A second tannery 
was kept by Mr. Searl on the lower street, on the south side 
of the creek that ran through the village. He also kept a 
shoe shop in another building. David Searl was a very fine 
man. I think he married one of Newell McCall's sisters. 
Isaiah Lathrop had a tin shop on the northeast corner op- 
posite Brook's hotel. There was a store on the upper street, 
a small affair, owned by a man named Boardman. There 
was another store owned by Oramel Griffin and a third on 
the lower street which was run by various members of the 
IMcCall family. In later years my brother Eri clerked in the 
same store. There was also a drug store on a small scale 
presided over by a McCall. On the upper street, facing 
Main street, was the hotel kept by the father of George 
Knickerbocker and at the south end of the upper street, 
opposite the Caneadea road, was another kept by Josephus 
Young. A second blacksmith shop was owned and run by 
John Osborn. There were two schoolhouses. What was called 
the west schoolhouse was on Alain Street, west of the creek, 
and the south schoolhouse was on an angling road that led 
from Young's tavern down to Gordonville. The winter I 
was at Mr. Bell's I went to the west school, taught by Oliver 
Butterfield, a very austere man. There were two churches, 

369 



Reminiscences 
Methodist and Baptist. Later on, when I was grown, a 
Presbyterian Church was added; still later a Universalist. 
I went to Sunday School frequently at the Baptist Church 
where my brother Eri was a member and a teacher of my 
class. They tell that when he was baptized, not long after he 
first went there, the ice had to be cut for the occasion. The 
Baptist preacher for a number of years was Elder Absalom 
Miner who married a daughter of Judge McCall. Their 
church building stood on a narrow, swampy plot of ground 
■east of where the present Baptist Church stands, a long, 
low structure which I do not think was ever painted. 

I went to visit mother one day at Grandfather Wilson's 
and told her I was not going to stay with Mr. Bell any longer 
as the work was pretty hard for a small boy. "Beaming 
hides" was one thing I was expected to do and the heavy 
hides had to be lifted out of large vats of water where 
they had been put to soak. Sometimes the ice was half an 
inch thick and had to be broken before the hides could be 
•drawn out. I went back, however, for two days more to 
grind some bark and get my clothes, and then, according to 
an agreement made by mother and Eri, went again to Oliver 
Benjamin's to stay until I was fourteen years old. I at- 
tended school summer and winter for two years. The Ben- 
jamins lived in a small house, the northeast room of which 
was called the "square room." In it was an old-fashioned 
clock set on brackets well toward the ceiling. It had weights 
that ran it, weighing I should say about ten pounds each, a 
mahogany case and a little narrow door which you opened 
to wind the clock by lifting a weight and pulling a cord. 
There was also a secretary made of especially nice curly 
maple which Oliver found on his farm and which was con- 
structed by his brother-in-law, John Neff. This was the 
best room ; a bedroom adjoining was the guest room. The 

370 



Rush ford Reminiscences 

dining and the winter cook room were one, and in it were 
the beds of the family. An adjoining stairway led to the 
chamber above, which was the attic and my bedroom. A 
large pantry and a summer kitchen and a wood house com- 
pleted the home. Sylvia, a little girl, was the only child at 
that time. Later, perhaps a dozen years, another child, 
Rhoda, was born, who lived to be thirteen years old. A 
wholesome-looking child with wonderful, long eyelashes and 
head of hair. 

I chopped wood, picked up stones in the meadows, for 
Rush ford was a stony place and scythes would easily dull, 
and helped make sugar in the spring, getting the buckets out, 
tightening the hoops, setting them to catch rain water to 
cleanse them, loading them onto sleds, driving through the 
bush and leaving one or two at each maple tree ; and then 
on warm days when sap would run, going round with team 
and large tub to empty them and help make the sugar. One 
of the pastimes of boys and girls was to go in the woods 
evenings and make the sugar themselves. I was to have 
stayed until I was fourteen years old but in the meantime 
Oliver had decided to build a barn and wanted me to stay 
another year. Such an arrangement was made. So I made 
my annual visit to Caneadea and was set to drawing timber 
from the woods nearly two miles away for the new barn, 
driving the oxen while walking beside them. It was an 
awkward job turning some corners with the long timbers 
dragging, and the first trip I did not calculate just right and 
the tongue of the sled broke. I did not know what to do, 
none of the men being there, since they were busy in the 
woods felling and hewing the timber, so I unloosed the 
oxen and left their burden where it was in the road. Uncle 
Asa Benjamin (father of Oliver) made a temporary tongue. 
After that I had no accidents. 

371 



Reminiscences 

One time there was trouble in the school district; those 
in the south part wishing a division of the district into two 
districts, those on the north side wishing no change. The 
change had been denied by the State Superintendent, but 
when Leverett Woods was elected Collector at the school 
meeting, he took occasion to resign at the next meeting for 
he knew there would be trouble. No election was made, 
for no one wanted the position, but a large, strong man by 
the name of Dake, a north end resident with children, who 
ran and owned an interest in Oliver Benjamin's sawmill, 
was fixed upon to do the work, and the assessment was made 
out and the warrant given to him. When he came to Uncle 
Calvin Leavens, pay was refused. Dake levied on a log chain 
and took it with him. Uncle Calvin suggested that he levy on 
his fanning mill instead. Dake said afterward that he might 
have done so for the assessment after mentioning the dollars 
and cents also called for a mill. When he got around to 
Uncle Riley Woods, pay was again refused so Dake levied 
on a splendid new wagon, hitched it to his own and went 
away with it. The boys from the southern part of the district 
hunted thoroughly for it, even going through the hay mow 
in Oliver Benjamin's barn, thinking it might be hidden there, 
but unsuccessfully. Dake had it safely locked up. Uncle 
Riley was a thorn in the flesh at school meetings ; you could 
hear from him in some shape or other every minute or two, 
and at one meeting having twitted a citizen of some family 
trouble, he ended by challenging him. The Methodist brother 
promptly stood out on the floor, but Uncle Daniel Woods, 
Uncle Riley's brother, a Methodist exhorter, called off his 
brother in the church and the brother in the flesh failed to 
come forward, and those who were aching to have the fight 
come off were disappointed. One summer when I was not 
attending school, Uncle Asa Benjamin, his brother, Levi 

3/2 



Rush ford Reminiscences 

Benjamin, Oliver Benjamin and their respective wives went 
on a visit to Ovid. Lucy Woods kept house for us in their 
ab<e!ice and the school mistress, Melissa Spoor, boarded 
tli(M-e (luring the time they were away. One night I waked 
up and saw^ that the window in the north end of the cliam- 
her looked as if it were lighted with moonshine. Turning 
ov^-r in bed 1 saw a flickering on the south wall of the room 
and jum])ing out of bed I ran to the north window, and 
there was a bright fire in sight. 1 thought at first it was a 
large ])ile of pine roots Init it turned out to be the school- 
house that was burning. 1 saw Thomas Eaton, who vv'as 
working I>enjamin"s farm, pulling the rails of the fence av/ay 
frrm the Ijuilding, and soon after 1 heard the voice of a 
girl calling to the school mistress that the school was on nrc. 
The building was entirely burned, and that ended the school 
tor the summer. St)me time afterward we learned the 
names of the rebel secessionists who did the Klu Klux w^ork. 
I'.ut in the end harmony was restored. They built another 
schoolhouse about half a mile further east on what was called 
the I'old Creek road. The roads in that section run parallel 
and direct north and south over hills and through vallevs. 
This C(dd Creek road left the north and south road and bore 
ofi^ to the east as _\'ou went n(^rth. 

When 1 was fifteen 1 left Oliver P.enjamin's to go back 
to Caneadea and assisted in l)uilding, or rather waited on 
the men who were building, the locks on the new canal. The 
Avinter after. 1 attended school in Jdoughton, and the next 
winter 1 went back to Rushford to I'ncle Asa Benjamin's. 
If I stayed until I was twenty-one 1 was to have three 
months of schooling in the winter, good clothing, a dress-up 
Sunday suit and one hundred dollars. 1 settled right down 
to business and went in. L'ncle Asa Henjann'n. as everyone 
called him. married Abigail Swinerton and had six children. 



Reminiscences 

Oliver, Salvia, Percy, Asa, Abigail and Harriet. Oliver 
married Lucia Woods, who was the daughter of Daniel 
\\'oods and my own cousin. Sylvia married John Neff and 
went to Centerville to live. She had two daughters, Maria 
and Abbey jane. Percy married Holton Colburn and was 
the mother of three daughters, Gratie Marcella, Julia and 
]\[yra. Asa died. I never saw him. An incident connected 
with his death, was that a neighbor's boy of the same name, 
bringing his things, walked in upon the family and an- 
nounced that he had come to take the ]dace of the departed, 
Abigail married John C. Bishop and had a daughter, Estella, 
a son, Benjamin Franklin, born on the Fourth of July, and 
Sarah, Mary and Ira, the last one named after his grand- 
father Bishop. Harriet was Uncle Asa's youngest child and 
a bright, fine-looking girl and the young men of the district 
and some outside the district cast wistful eyes upon her. 
But she favored George Colburn so he became the successful 
suitor and she was mr.rried to him at her home on or about 
my twenty-first birthday. Aside from the presence of the 
Rev. Jacob Saxe and his brother Asa there were no guests 
at the wedding. Harriet Colburn had three children, Wal- 
lace, Flora and Homer. Grandfather said that George was 
one of the most enterprising fellows for mischief that he 
ever saw, but he couldn't hold a candle to Homer. Homer 
was a great hand to do his own work. When he died he 
had one hundred beehives of his own making and he could 
shoe his own horses. Uncle Asa was a fair shoemaker and a 
pretty good cattle doctor. Pie made cheese in the summer 
time and butter in the winter time. They did not bring so 
much money as now ; I remember Harriet wanted a new 
cloth dress and the old folks made arrangements to have it 
paid in cheese. We were allowed fom- cents a pound for 
the cheese and good cheese at that. 

.174 



Rush ford Reminiscences 

The last winter I went to scfiool we studied Cobb's 
Spelling Book. We took right to it. The older scholars 
went right in to spell all the words there were to be spelled. 
I won the prize for spelling, twenty-five cents cash. We 
studied Adams' Arithmetic, geography and grammar. I 
studied algebra a little also. We never did any drawing ex- 
cept drawing wood or something of that sort. We didn't 
even draw the girls around because we did not have any 
hand sleds. We used to have evening parties often, perhaps 
not quite once a week, but very frequently. There used to 
be a play called "Snap and catch 'em," and one called "Roll 
the platter." Cake, cheese and coffee were passed and not 
later than ten o'clock the party would break up. The 
chances were that every girl would have an escort home. 
We would come and go with horse and cutter, either singly 
or in sleigh loads. I remember we used to have spelling bees 
and that Betsy Hill was reproved for bringing her knitting 
work along. I remember a celebration gotten up for the 
Fourth of July and the Sons of Temperance getting General 
Riley from Rochester to speak for them. I remember going 
fishing one Sunday with Clark Woods. I wonder how we 
dared to do it, for Clark's father was a very strict Methodist. 

The spring of the year after I was twenty-one, I went to 
work for John Bishop who had taken Uncle Asa's farm tO' 
work, eating at the Bishop table but keeping my room at 
Uncle Asa's. John Bishop was pretty well read in history 
and Abigail was not far behind, having taught school and 
being the reader of the family. We borrowed the poem,. 
"The Lady of the Lake." and read it evenings. Abigail 
would explain quite a good many things that we did not 
comprehend the meaning of. She was one of the best girls 
I ever knew. She was charitable. She was always ready 
to instruct me, being several years older. I would go to her 

37S 



Reminiscences 

with unsolved problems and she would help me out. I was 
with the Bishops about six months and then I went to Hol- 
ton Colburn's. I boarded with him and attended school or 
institute in preparation for teaching. While I was there 
•our town superintendent brought a Welshman by the name 
•of Williams and recommended me to him as one fitted to 
teach the school in the outskirts of Farmersville, so I was 
hired by him. That took me out of Rushford for three 
months, and then, if memory serves me right, I worked for 
H. Colburn that summer six months. While I was working 
for him a trustee of the district school at Mill's Mills, town 
of Hume, hired me to teach. The spring after that I went 
to East Bloomfield to work for my half brother, Eri Wilson. 
I left Rushford on foot, driving a pair of steers a distance 
of about thirty miles, and attended on the way the marriage 
of Emily Buell and Loren Colburn, which I did not expect 
to do when I started out. When I reached Bloomfield the 
first person to welcome me was Emily Buell of my brother's 
wife's family, who later became my wife. 



RECOLLECTIONS OF KELLOGGVILLE, RUSH 

CREEK AND EAST RUSHFORD 

H. B. Ackerly 

MY father moved from Delaware County, N. Y., October, 
1834. He first bought one hundred acres below Mc- 
Grawville but later sold the land and bought where Calvin 
Kellogg now lives. The first settlers in the Pliny Bannister 
school district, now called Kelloggville, were P. Bannister, 
R. Bannister, L. P. Walker, Daniel Balcom, John Orcutt, 
Aaron Capen, Jonathan Ackerly. Wm. Ackerly, Jared Phil- 
lips, Isaac Towell, Wm. Wheeler, Luther Woodworth, Daniel 

376 



Kelloggville, Rush Creek and East Rushford 

Kingsbury and Silas Topping. The most of them had large 
families ; thirty or forty attended the winter school. This 
was considered one of the best schools in the country. They 
had a frame schoolhouse. Log schoolhouses were more 
common. Schools were supported by each family paying 
according to the number of days sent to school and furnish- 
ing so much wood for each scholar. Sometimes people would 
neglect to bring their share of wood to school and the 
school boys had to go with hand-sleds and pick up hemlock 
bark off from old logs. A good many shiftless people lived 
then, the same as now. There was no compulsion to send 
children to school so a great many had a poor chance to get 
an education. Pliny Bannister was an old school teacher and 
took a great interest in schools. 

Pliny Bannister and his brother Roderick built a saw- 
mill and gristmill and a grindstone factory at the head of 
the Gorge and did a good business. These settlers came 
previous to seventy-five years ago. Later others moved 
into the school district, Chas. Colburn, George Colburn, 
Caleb Colburn, Abijah Colburn, Foster Sutton, Wm. Sut- 
ton, Jerome Lewis, Nathaniel Seavey, John Pryor, John 
Barnes and others. Wilson Gordon and sons, Orson and 
Thomas, had a sawmill on his farm, now owned by Mrs. 
Fannie McCall. Mr. Jerome Lewis managed the mill for 
the Gordons. Chas. Colburn and Sons purchased a sawmill 
privilege for a water-mill of my father on the farm now 
owned by Calvin Kellogg and sawed lumber for a number 
of years. L. P. Walker purchased the sawmill of the Ban- 
nisters. He lumbered for a number of years and sawed a 
great deal for customers. It was common to see Andrew 
Kimball from Cream Ridge and the Goforths from the 
Creek Road district get down there with their oxen before 
daylight, and to see Almond Benjamin and Newell McCall 



Reminiscences 

go into the Pine Woods and get out with a load of logs 
before daylight. Luther Gordon lumbered there a number 
of years and had a lumber camp on his grandfather Wood- 
worth's farm. I remember that he and the Colburn brothers 
bought a pine lot of Oliver Benjamin and paid five dollars 
a thousand. It was considered a great sale and it was, as 
the lumber delivered at Caneadea sold at about nine dollars 
a thousand. The one hundred acres now owned by Mrs. 
Jennie Litchard Gilbert was given to our Baptist Church 
by the Holland Land Company. It was very heavily tim- 
bered with pine and was divided up into five and ten-acre 
lots and sold to the highest bidder. That gave those that had 
no timber a chance to secure some. I can remember when 
our Baptist Church* stood in the woods on that farm. Peo- 
ple said the land would not be worth a dollar an acre but 
the Litchard brothers thought better of it and bought it and 
cleared it and made a farm of it. I consider it one of the 
best farms in Allegany County. There have been millions 
of feet of lumber cut in the Kelloggville valley and hauled 
to Bufifalo with teams, fifty-four miles, and sold for from 
seven to eight dollars a thousand. A thousand feet made a 
load. They had to eat cold victuals all the four days gone. 

The farms were small, generally fifty to one hundred 
acres, and all woods. Think of men moving large families 
into the woods with no schools near by and having to gO' 
where they could get work to get provisions to keep their 
families during the winter. They made black salts out of 
wood-ashes and sent them to Rochester. I have heard 
that they could not make more than two or three shillings 
a day burning hard wood and making black salts. Those 
were the hard times that Elder Thomas Pratt spoke of at 
the fiftieth anniversary. In those days they had plenty of 

*The church was then the standing timber. 
378 



Kelloggville, Rush Creek and East Rush ford 

game and fish. Deer and other wild animals were numerous. 
Speckled trout were abundant; they were the finest fish we 
ever had. They disappeared after the country was cleared. 

I remember when the Indians lived on the Genesee 
River and had brush houses to live in on their hunting trips. 
They were friendly and would often call at houses and ask 
for something to eat. As a rule I think they were honest. 
In all of my Western travels among them for the last 
thirty-five years we would leave our clothes and provisions 
in the woods and they were never molested. I had a half- 
breed for a guide and he told me our things would be safe 
and I found it so. 

L. P. Walker's sawmill that he purchased of the Ban- 
nisters was washed away. He became discouraged and 
went to California at the time of the gold excitement. It 
took some three or four months to get there. He was gone 
three or four years and came back without much gold. His 
sons John and Charles went to work and rebuilt the mill and 
paid ofif his debts while he was gone. The mill was after- 
wards sold to C. Balcom. At one time when Mr. Lucian 
Freeman, the well-known school commissioner, was visiting 
my brother Andrew, we had a quantity of pine logs in the 
pond. The Caneadea Creek was rising fast, so they with 
Mr. Balcom went down in the evening to try to secure the 
logs. They saw that they were surrounded by a rapid rush 
of water with bridges, trees and broken houses floating on 
every side of them. They started for the highest point of 
land where there were not more than eight or ten feet of 
dry land for them to stand on. It was a very dark night and 
their friends feared that they were lost. They had to remain 
there till morning. The sawmill and dam went out and 
the logs were lost. Their lives were saved by the break in 
the dam which lowered the water. I think O. T. Higgins' 

379 



i 



Reminiscences 

house went at that time and a great deal of other property. 

This was small compared with what the first settlers 
suffered, with poor roads and bridges, living in log houses 
with stone fire-places and using iron kettles to bake in. 
I remember when my folks got a tin oven which was set in 
front of the fire and the bread had to be turned often to 
keep one side from burning. When a spare rib was to be 
roasted a tow string was fastened to the timber above and 
to the spare rib to hold it in front of the fire. They had 
to keep it well basted to keep it from burning. When the 
first stove with four griddles came into use it was consid- 
ered a great improvement but only a few people were able 
to buy one, for a number of years. Ox-sleds, wooden-shod, 
were largely used. Some people had horses. Their con- 
veyances were the lumber-wagons in which they moved 
from the East. The roads were such that a buggy could 
not stand the work. Matches were not in use. Flint from 
a gun-lock struck with steel or a jack-knife would make a 
spark which was caught on dry punk. Sometimes it would 
fail and they would have to go to the neighbors to borrow 
a brand of fire. 

The main thoroughfare was from the east to the west. 
Sometimes a long train of covered wagons moved to Ohio 
or Michigan. Sometimes droves of cattle, sheep, horses, 
mules and hogs were driven through here. There was a 
dense forest of pine from Kelloggville to Caneadea and in 
fly-time drovers were bothered to get through. Boys were 
then in great demand at a sixpence, which was six and one- 
quarter cents. 

Our fathers were anxious to have the wheat harvest 
come in Livingston and Genesee Counties. They would 
shoulder their cradles and travel through. Their families 
at home would get along the best they could by dividing the 

380 



Kelloggville, Rush Creek and East Rushford 

flour they had with one another. The northern farmers 
would ask them if they had brought their leek-hooks with 
them. We are now independent of them. Our Allegany 
and Cattaraugus Counties abound in rich grasses which 
produce the finest butter and cheese in the United States. 
Harrington and Schuyler of Medina had the job of build- 
ing locks on the Genesee Valley Canal at Caneadea, which 
was commenced in 1837. They quarried stone in Kellogg- 
ville, where there was a layer of stone two and one-half 
feet thick, and hauled hundreds of loads over Sand Hill 
to Caneadea. This made work for a large number of men 
for a long time. 

But few are living that went to school when I did. 
They are Parker Woodworth of Girard, Pennsylvania; 
Albert Bannister of Pasadena, California; Amelia Bannis- 
ter of Fort Scott, Kansas ; Mrs. Nelson Smith of Farmers- 
ville Center, New York ; and A. J. Ackerly* of Cuba, New 
York. This shows the changes in that school district since 
the settlement of Rushford. It shows that we are passing 
away, one generation after another, rapidly. 

Now I shall confine my thoughts to Rush Creek. It 
was rightly named since it has a gravelly bottom and the 
freshets changed its course rapidly. This has caused great 
damage to farms and sawmills. There were four sawmills 
in that valley. My father owned one. Our dam went out 
in January. We went to work and rebuilt it. The last day 
while scraping gravel out of the creek there was anchor ice 
in the running water which was waist deep. We did not 
take cold. 

I will, as I remember, give you the names of the in- 
habitants in Rush Creek school district: Lucian Frost, 
Luke Warren (who owned forty acres of woodland and 

*Died April 13, 1909. 

381 



Reminiscences 

lived in a log house with his seventeen children. It was 
said they had to dig roots for a living, at least they had a 
hard time to get along. The father became crazy and trav- 
eled constantly through this and adjoining towns saying, 
"Alonzo Jenison, the devil, stole my broad ax." After he 
moved out of the house it was found between the ceiling 
and the side of the log house), Watkins Ackerly, Nelson 
Rose, Isaac Cronk, Erastus Covill, Seth Covill, George 
Covin, Ezra Sweatland, Allen Capen, A. Gunn, "Bachelor" 
Tilton, L. Anderson, Wm. Harris, Abel and Ames Slusher, 
Asa B. Smith, Oliver Jenison, Luther Jenison, Ira Petty, 
Elijah Anderson, James Haynes, Daniel Haynes, and 
"Father" Haynes. At that time there were no bridges, the 
roads were poor and they had to ford the creek. I remem- 
ber when they had to crook around trees and deep mud- 
holes and it seemed almost impossible to get through. 

There were a number of different denominations. Bap- 
tist, Methodist, Wesleyan Methodist and Christian. The 
Mormons worked hard but did not accomplish much, neither 
did the Christians, as they called themselves. The other 
denominations have continued to support a church. Differ- 
ent ministers would come and preach to them. "Father" 
Goff, a good Christian man, exhorted them often with much 
effect. In the early days Luther Jenison erected a rough, 
one-story building for the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
It was removed a few years after and meetings were held 
in the schoolhouse, until a few years ago when the people 
erected a nice Wesleyan Methodist Church, for which they 
deserve great praise. 

Frank Johnson, father of Mell Johnson of Cuba, came 
in 1840 from Dry den, Tompkins County, New York, and 
lumbered for John McGraw and E. Southworth on lands 
now owned by Wm. Simpson. He stocked two water- 

382 



Kelloggville, Rush Creek and East Rush ford 
mills with logs. In 1848 John McGraw and E. Southworth 
came and built the steam sawmill and built up the town 
and named it McGrawville. It was a good business place 
and a good deal of money was handled. The store did a big 
business. In the winter it was common to see twenty or 
thirty teams from the north, Wyoming and Livingston 
Counties, loaded with lumber. Lumber was hauled to 
Caneadea to ship by canal to different markets. It had to 
be hauled over Sand Hill till 1852, when a plank road was 
built to Caneadea through the Gorge, over which a team 
could draw a great load. It made a very pleasant drive for 
carriages as it was cool in summer and the scenery was 
beautiful. In winter it was cold as the suction of the air 
bit more sharp than elsewhere. There was a branch toll road 
from Kelloggville to Rushford and the office was at the junc- 
tion on Calvin Kellogg's farm. After McGraw and South- 
worth had lumbered for a number of years and taken off a 
great portion of the timber, they sold the property to Rum- 
sey and Phelps of Buffalo. Mr. Rumsey was a tanner. 
Afterwards they sold out to Albright and Kelley. Mr. 
Rumsey said he made $25,000, in experience. Albright and 
Kelley ran it a number of years. Finally every bridge was 
swept away by an unusual freshet which caused a great pile 
of slabs to move from L. P. Walker's sawmill and take 
everything before it. Albright and Kelley sued L. P. Walker 
for damages and were beaten on the ground that that had 
been the place to pile the slabs for years before the road 
had been built and they had never gone out before. That 
finished the plank road. John McGraw was one of the 
best business men I ever knew. He was anxious to have a 
plank road built so he could get his lumber to the canal 
cheaper. He worked up a feeling among the people that it 
would be a paying investment, so a stock company was 

383 



Reminiscences 

formed to build a road from McGrawville to Caneadea and 
from Kelloggville to Rushford. The contractors were James 
and Luther Gordon, PHny Bannister, John Barnes, Calvin 
Kellogg, Luke Hitchcock and ]\Ir. Kingsley. Michael Bol- 
ton did a good deal of work on the road. The road paid 
the lumbermen but did not pay the stockholders. 

Mr. John Barnes had two miles of plank road to build. 
My father and my brother and myself helped him. The 
three of us with our ox team earned, altogether, four dol- 
lars and a quarter a day and boarded ourselves. We thought 
we were making money fast. We furnished some plank at 
four dollars and a half a thousand. The last of October we 
finished a bridge across C. Balcom's mill-pond east of Mc- 
Grawville going into the water up to our waists to place 
timber. 

In the thirties we had a cyclone. It came from Olean 
through Hinsdale and Rushford near McGrawville. A 
house owned by Bosworth was demolished and one person 
killed. It went on east through Belfast and Belmont and 
destroyed millions of feet of pine timber. I remember 
being at school at the time and when it became dark the 
scholars hovered around the teacher for protection. They 
had a right to be frightened for it was a fearful time. 

The names of the inhabitants of East Rushford school 
district were Wilson Gordon and his sons Thomas and 
Orson, Ziba Forsath, "Deacon" Lewis, father of Mrs. M. C. 
White. Randolph Heald, Samuel Capen, Milton McCall, 
Xelson McCall, Harvey Crocker, Mr. Rathburn, Mr. 
Shields, Ezekiel Gillett. Lowell Wright, John Daball, Mr. 
Dunn, Mr. Delano, "Negro" Hill, Edwin Burr, Mr. Relya 
and others that came in later. It was one of the most noted 
manufacturing places in the county. James McCall built 
the first gristmill. Later it was owned by Grimard, Thomas 

384 




Harvey Crocker 



Reminiscences 

Gordon and others. "Deacon" Lewis ran a sawmill and 
bucket factory, Milton McCall a linseed oil factory just 
above the bridge that goes up to the Crocker Brothers' 
farm, Amos Stone and Company a foundr)', and Wm. Gor- 
don and Sons a carding machine for wool. They also had 
one in Roderick Bannister's old gristmill at the Gorge. Later 
Avery Washburn joined the company which was a valuable 
one for the town and county. John Daball ran a door, 
sash and blind factory, Asa Worden and brother a tannery, 
Daniel and James Haynes a furniture shop. Nelson McCall 
kept a general store and postoffice, Samuel Thomas and 
Alexander a blacksmith shop, and there was also a hotel. 
Church services were well attended and the school was 
good. Altogether East Rushford was a lively burgh. 

The first settlers lived in log houses till after sawmills 
were built. Then some of them built frame houses. In 
many cases it was years before they were completed. They 
generally built log fences at first. Afterwards they built 
rail fences out of pine, oak, cherry or ash. It took the best 
timber to split into rails. 



REMINISCENCES 
Mary Smith, Delhi, Ohio 

OUR first coming to Rushford was in 1839. My father 
died in August two years before, leaving my mother 
with eight little children, the oldest but eighteen years old. 
My mother was still a young woman. She wanted to get a 
small farm for a home for us, and as Allegany was quite a 
new country and land much cheaper than in Madison County, 
she wrote to her brother. Judge Abram Lyon, to get her 

.386 



Reminiscences 

such a house as she wanted, and she would send the money 
to pay for it. Rushford had just been visited by the Mor- 
mon elders and the home on the hill, that H. K. White 
owned at one time, was owned and occupied by a Mormon 
elder and his family. Uncle bought it for us. 

Rushford was settled by excellent business men. Judge 
McCall and his sons settled at East Rushford, and the five 
Gordon brothers settled north and south of the village. The 
Gordons were Methodists and did much to build up the 
Methodist Church. John Gordon's home was in the village. 
He was not a Methodist but his son, Walter Gordon, became 
a Methodist minister. The other brothers were excellent 
workers in the church. Judge McCall and his family were 
Baptists. The Caneadea Creek ran south of the village and 
east to the Genesee river. There were excellent water privi- 
leges along its course. Judge McCall built a flouring mil] 
between the two hills which come down almost perpen- 
dicularly to the creek. Just below, and on the same side 
of the creek. Nelson McCall built his nice residence and 
dry goods store ; a little farther down Deacon Lewis built 
a chair factory and furniture shop ; on the opposite side 
of the road the men employed had their homes. Milton 
McCall had his home on the bluff with steps leading up 
to it. 

The wild romantic scenery attracted my attention very 
much when we went there. The creek wound around the 
hill where we lived and crossed the road a little below it. 
A schoolhouse was built below and towards the creek. My 
eldest sister, Mehitable Smith, taught the first summer after 
we moved there. She w^ent to Lewiston to live with my 
uncle and came bome only on visits. In the summer of 
1842 my sister Sarah married Fordyce Gordon, son of James 
Gordon. Judge McCall's home was at the foot of the hill 

387 



Reminiscences 

across the creek from our home. They were very kind 
neighbors. His son-in-law, Elder Miner, was pastor of the 
Baptist Church. Aly mother and sisters were members of 
that church. About this time I left Rushford to go to Lew- 
iston to school. My uncle was trustee of the Academy there 
and it was one of the best schools in that section. Then my 
mother needed me at home and I came back to Rushford. 
Elder Miner had left and Elder Wardner, a student, took 
his place. They called all ministers "Elder" in those days. 
The year before I went to Lewiston, Elder Miller, a Second 
Adventist minister, had delivered a course of lectures on 
the prophecies and decided that the world would be de- 
stroyed in 1843. That year had been remarkable for re- 
vivals all over the country and the church of Rushford was 
visited by a celebrated revivalist named Burchard who with 
his wife held a three weeks' meeting in the Presbyterian 
Church. The church being too small, they soon removed 
to the Baptist and Methodist churches where they held meet- 
ings alternately. Mr. Burchard was a powerful speaker. 
I remember one evening when the meeting was in the Meth- 
odist Church a young man named Edward Pratt, who had 
lately come from the East and who was not at all religious, 
became converted ; he stepped out into the aisle and said, 'T 
am determined to seek religion and am willing that all in 
this house should know it." His fearless words had a great 
effect on the young people who were halting between two 
opinions and many came out on the side of the Lord. Dur- 
ing this meeting Mrs. Burchard formed a society among 
the best young women of the town. Aurora Thompson and 
Achsah Griffin (now Mrs. Champlain of Cuba) were di- 
rectors and I was appointed secretary. (3ur meetings were 
held monthly at each other's homes. They were designed to 
refine the mind and improve the manners. It was called 



Reminiscences 

the Mutual Improvement Society. We continued our meet- 
ings for three years. 

After my return to Rush ford we thought best to re- 
move to Rushford village. W'inthrop Young had just built 
him a new house* opposite the hotel his father. Uncle Cephas 
Young, kept. Winthrop exchanged it for our home on the 
hill and we moved into the village in the spring of 1843. ^ 
took the school west of the village. The wages were small, 
only six shillings a week, but I added to it by sewing for the 
people I boarded with, making more by my needle than bv 
teaching. Every other Saturday I could spend at home. 
How glad I was when it came around. I liked my home in 
Rushford. My brother-in-law planted maples in front of 
the house and I planted flowers to make it pleasant. Nearly 
opposite, Mr. Truman Swift had a dry goods store. His 
residence was a little ways from the corner, on Center 
Street. Mr. Griffin had a dry goods store on the corner. 
Mr. Hyde had a jewelry store and ]\Ir. Howe a harness 
shop on Center Street. There was quite a strife between 
Upper and Lower Streets as to which should exceed the 
other in business. About the time we left the farm, Nelson 
McCall sold his place in East Rushford, moved his busi- 
ness to Rushford and occupied the store which A. M. Tay- 
lor afterw^ards owned. His family at first lived on the up- 
per floor but he soon built his residence across the creek, 
next his store. Just beyond him :\Ir. Lathrop, who kept 
a hardware store on the corner of Center Street, built his 
residence. 

The village grew rapidly in every direction. Mr. 
William Gordon, who lived on the corner at Gordonville, 
built a wool-carding and cloth-dressing factory, using the 
water power of the creek below him. His two oldest sons, 

*Xo\v owned by Mrs. Susan Abbott. 
389 



Reminiscences 

Sa^ue, and Jedediah, built ^^^ ^1^^::^:^::^, 
on the business. Southwest of h.s house, across ' 
Mr. Gordon budt the second flounng ™' ™ f ^f ° f, 
They employed .e '^™f -':^ ^J ' ^ the eI; 
- ' Tr: hCdrouTthi^tiltd taught our school. 

r;s;:h!t^tcor-s.r.do„th^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

wool-carding establ._shn,en.H^marr.^^^^^ to Topeka, 

f "V'^^fe had our'hor^e in the village thirteen year. 
Kansas. We had oi ^^^ employed 

f^sCefwi^'s-'fo^drrM that time droves oMat 

Gordon got my brother to g ^^^^^^^ ^^^ 

Our next neighbor on the north was Mrs. Thirds, bhe 
a millinery shop and her husband a ^-^'°; ^^^^.^^^^t 
house was Ouincy White's, then Samuel White s, ana 
yond that ;;as tL Globe Hotel; opposite this was M. 
Crdman-s store and the postoffice "- ^a. ^^ od 
r -ffin'c residence- opposite was his brother Uramei s sior 
l:r;o:srrdauj;i:er Achsah was --d June .t 46 
.0 Marshall C^ampl-. a -ye ^^f ^^^^^he^ ^^^^^^ 

i?p::ri;f S^r' r— d .. heard her Sing the 

"""'t; mXr'L a severe illness, a Hing fever, wh^le 

. 13 u(r..A Mrs H K. White watched over her 

'"'"'■ *M Th doctoHn Ru hford gave her up so we had 

:r,;fcn: a^^stt tHrty miles away and old Dr. Alien. 



3Q0 



Reminiscences 

We waited for their decision. They said there were ninety- 
nine chances for her to die and one to hve. She improved 
that one and Hved twenty years after. We all loved our 
kind, gentle mother and could not bear to give her up. The 
Rushford people were very kind. Elder Wardner had left 
the Baptist Church and was succeeded by Elder Harris 
whose wife was Elder Fuller's daughter and sister of Mrs. 
Mason of Rushford. Scarcely a day passed without their 
visiting her, and the village people were very kind. Mrs. 
H. K. White was my dearest friend. We enjoyed reading 
the same books and talking them over. She was a de- 
cidedly intellectual woman. After the Academy was built 
I attended half of the first term and then took the Upper 
Street village school and taught it four months. The people 
were so well pleased with the school that they hired me 
another month. I taught two weeks and gave it up, as my 
work at home was too hard. My brother Joseph from Chi- 
cago coming home, took me to Lewiston for a trip. Thir- 
teen years had passed and my four brothers bought the 
old home on the hill back again and we exchanged our vil- 
lage home for a small farm in New Hudson, which we sold 
afterwards to Mr. Taylor of Taylor Hill. In 1857 we 
moved back to our first home. One night I saw a great 
blaze from the west window in our sleeping room. Miss 
Cooley, afterwards my brother Ancus' wife, was with me 
and we walked up to the village to see the fire. The Young's 
Hotel was burned down and a blacksmith shop and wagon 
shop just below it. In i860 we exchanged our home on 
the hill for a home inXuba. The Erie Railroad had been 
built and this drew the business away from Rushford. The 
first generation had nearly all passed away. After the 
railroad was built, Nelson McCall sold his store to Deacon 
Hapgood whose daughter Lucia was the mother of Frank 

391 



Reminiscences 

Higgins who became Governor of New York. My mother's 
home was in Rushford twenty years. 



RECOLLECTIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS 

Helen M. Judd 
ROM the sombre Hght of age we look back fondly 



F 



upon the brightness of earlier days, it being a law of 
nature that bright things are better seen in gloom. 

I speak only of things that liuvc and have gone. My 
earliest recollections of Rushford life are rather vague, for 
the child is careless of surroundings which only shape them- 
selves as years are added. Everything is taken for granted, 
the world and all that surrounds us. Ego is the center of 
this mundane stage and all is for us. Life and people and 
the town do not interest us and if only a few memories are 
recorded here of the long ago they may interest a trifle. 

Outside of the family life my first vivid memories are of 
school, a select school taught by Miss Margaret Boardman 
in the chamber of her father's general store and postofiice. 
A choice few were there introduced to the alphabet, reading, 
spelling and a dust or faint odor of arithmetic. 

How to show that Rushford possessed originality and 
invention and almost threatened to forestall the ingenuity 
of the great Froebel. the father of the Kindergarten, I will 
say that whenever the day was rainy we pupils employed 
the recess time in making paper baskets such as "My Lady" 
serves the dessert or confections in 'at her fashionable din- 
ners. We also made Lucifer matches. Sticks prepared in 
a block b}- being si^lit the pro])er size, we broke off and 
dipped in the igniting paste and carefully laid side by side 
upon a paper to dry ; when dry we put them in boxes ready 



?<92 



Recollections and Characteristics 

for disposal. Then we sang songs, marched, and were 
taught to walk and stand properly. We were taught to 
draw angles ; farther than that the teacher had no artistic 
learning. 

Having begun with this store as a landmark, I will 
mention a few others that are gone. Diagonally opposite, 
on the east side, was a tavern, long since removed, managed 
or mis-managed, as the case may be, by Mr. Knickerbocker. 
I have little recollection except that personally he did not 
resemble the historic Diedrich. 

On the other corner diagonally opposite stood the dry 
goods store belonging to Air. Oramel Gritfin. I never re- 
member being inside but thought everything that the world 
knew could be purchased there. A few scattering dwellings 
were along that side of the street and near the slope of the 
hill stood the Young's Hotel. They didn't call it inn or 
tavern for the French word more fitly denoted its great abil- 
ity to serve the public to rest, refreshment and the "needful 
beverages." No wave of temperance had penetrated those 
conservative regions then. Cephas Young, Uncle Cephas as 
he was familiarly called, had formerly been the landlord, 
but landlord or not he spent most of his time there "taking 
mine ease in mine inn," and was a merry companion to the 
others who spent their leisure there. 

From the postofifice corner west, on the south side of 
the street, another landmark disappears, the old Methodist 
Church, which could no longer hold the flock and was moved 
down the street nearly opposite the Baptist Church and used 
for a musical school. The eccentric professor, his spectacled 
eyes always to the front, I remember well. When the pro- 
slavery trouble was in Kansas, he was heard to exclaim. "O. 
it's all Kansas, Kansas. "What do I care for Kansas? Just 



393 



Reminiscences 

give me plenty of music pupils and when the time comes 
I'll vote all right." 

Nearly opposite, just east of the Baptist Church, was 
the grocery store of Clark McCall. I think everyone will 
remember the sign painted on the side under the cornice, 
"Paints, Oils and Dye Stuffs." What good paint it must 
have been to endure so long. Mr. McCall possessed a large 
flock of children (there was no race suicide then) and as 
they were play-fellows, the majority of the children gave 
their patronage to the store in the shape of slates, pencils, 
candy, licorice and nuts. The next building that I recollect 
on that side of the street was a long, low building containing 
stores and shops which has given place to another; also the 
store and shop owned by Mr. Lathrop which was replaced 
by a new one that in time disappeared by fire. 

That side of the street and the street running north 
were not much different from their present appearance only 
there seemed to be more life there then. The street leading 
west, on the right hand side was nearly as it is today but the 
other side was far different. The store kept by Mr. Bates 
Hapgood stood on the corner just east of the bridge or be- 
tween bridges ; its ghost stands there yet. Beyond the bridge 
was the great elm tree, in its majesty then, and one house 
and the schoolhouse of district No. 2. There may be 
tliose present who there received their first instruction, and 
some attended who there absorbed all the school education 
of their lives. The pupils were many and of ascending 
ages, and I remember the girls in summer sought for their 
playground the cemetery's sacred haunts among the myrtle 
and the ponderous cherry trees. If they had any particular 
ideas concerning the fitness of things, they thought the weary 
were resting in celestial realms. At this time the street lead- 

394 



Recollections and Characteristics 

ing south contained six houses and a barn on one side and 
four houses and a barn on the other. 

In recalling those times and bringing judgment to bear 
on them, I see that the inhabitants were individually and 
collectively a fair representation of Uncle Sam. Physically 
they were inclined to be slim' instead of portly, and were 
invariably slow of speech. The men loved to sit at the 
grocery door at evening and tell tales and with cork screw 
inquisitiveness learn their neighbor's business. Under the 
aspect of simplicity they were wonderfully shrewd at a bar- 
gain and quick to discover the "main chance." Yet when 
charity was solicited they were open-handed and willing. No 
village could surpass them in their care for the needy. 

At that time what were called "amusements" were few. 
The arrival and departure of the stage elicited interest ; a 
traveler with a trunk was interesting, where they hailed 
from and their destination. A crowd rushed out to listen 
to a foreign missionary lecture. Once in a while a temper- 
ance lecturer came and anti-slavery speakers were also lis- 
tened to. I remember Frederick Douglas lecturing, in 1846, 
I think, to an enthusiastic audience in the Baptist Church. 
Once in a while there came a concert by the Hutchinson 
Family, or other traveling companies, but a "theater play" 
was an unknown quantity. A sleight-of-hand performance 
followed by a magic lantern exhibition would fill our very 
souls with joy, and all the boys of the neighborhood would be 
"doing tricks" for the next six months. The coming of 
the circus was, to the youth of the town, the acme of de- 
light, and many a boy determined to seek renown, when he 
was older, in the circus ring. If there were animals they 
had a crowd in attendance, for parents, you know, went just 
to please the children. Yet when it arrived and the proces- 
sion passed, no one had the hardihood to go out on the 

395 



Reminiscences 

streets to view it. I once asked, after seeing crowds repre- 
sented on the bills, if people ever went out on the street like 
that, dressed in their holiday attire. The reply was, "Not 
by any means ; that was only an advertising scheme." The 
yearly campmeeting came to the young as an amusement, 
for I suspect they went more to witness the intense religious 
excitement than to hear the Gospel. 

It was a great event when the town clock was purchased 
and Rush ford was very proud of it and justly so. Direct- 
ing attention to the clock reminds me of the old custom of 
the tolling of the bell when any person died and their age 
was counted oft" by strokes. What a terrible feeling it always 
gave the children ; they would group together, wild eyed 
and sober, and realize the sorrow and grimness of the death 
presence. 

One pronounced peculiarity of the people was a di- 
vision of religious belief in families. A man would drive 
into town, turn and leave his wife and daughter at the Bap- 
tist Church and, accompanied by his sons, go on to the Meth- 
dist Church. Another father with his two daughters would 
go to the Methodist Church for spiritual comfort, the mother 
and son and daughter seek the consolation of the Presby- 
terian. Another husband would seek the shelter of the broad 
gauge Universalist while wife and children would sit under 
Baptist teachings ; and so on among many more through the 
speeding years. They saw their neighbor's creed kindly, 
but believed their own bore better fruits. These good peo- 
ple have all long ago sailed across the unknown sea to the 
"Blessed Isles" where they have found that both are right, 
perhaps. 

In the stirring days of the founding of telegraph lines 
we had a prophet. Chauncey McDonald, who said, "I have 
faith to think that we shall yet talk by word of mouth and 

.396 



Recollections and Characteristics 

have our streets lighted by electricity." He lived to see his 
prophecy fulfilled ; he foretold better than he knew. Another 
prophet said he thought that we would yet subsist on the 
elements, but that hasn't arrived yet. Still the scientists 
are finding so much poison in what we considered harmless 
that we may come to it sooner or later. 

There were some very eccentric people among us. On 
the west street in the solitary house on the left, near the 
great elm tree dwelt a woman, not old then but thinking 
herself so, who struggled with the world, and the school chil- 
dren in particular. She imagined that both were her enemies 
and that both would eventually beat her in the struggle. 
She magnified the childish pranks and considered them in- 
sults, and when she could capture a mischievous boy she 
made her resistance known by an application of the switch 
or omnipresent slip])er. Boys were no different then than 
they are now; they only laughed and jeered while she men- 
tally consigned them to the prison or the gallows, and yet 
two of these boys became ministers of the gospel. The boys 
considered her a great amusement. 

There was a man in town noted for his long prayers. 
One morning the hired man unnoticed slipped out of doors 
before prayers. There he met a man who wished to see his 
employer immediately. The hired man said, "You can't ; he 
is at prayers." The man said. "How long, do you suppose, 
before I can see him?" "Well," said the hired man, "I'll 
see." He stepped to the window and listened. "Well," he 
said, returning, "He has just got to the heathen and he will 
be here in ten minutes." Another man gloried in religious 
phrases and exclamations. He one morning entered the 
store exclaiming, "Hallelujah to the Lamb! Give me half a 
pound of your two shilling tea." 

At one time one of the churches was agitating the ques- 

397 



Reminiscences 

tion of buying a chandelier. A man said, "What's the use 
of spending your money for such a thing? When you get 
it there is no one here that knows enough to play on it." 
He was the man who said he played the bugle for his own 
conversion. When Mr. Lincoln was nominated for Presi- 
dent a man inquired, "Who might this Abraham Lincoln be? 
I never read of him in history." Another wondered what 
they did at a caucus, "Did they sing?" One strong-minded 
woman went out to dinner and supper leaving her mate to 
pick up his meals. When she returned he suggested supper. 
'"O, my dear," said she, "you just go and pop you some corn 
and I will get you a fine breakfast in the morning." He 
obeyed. 

When the Academy was started, preparations were made 
for a new life. Everything was changed. It was truly a 
Renaissance; life and action everywhere ; new energy in bus- 
iness ; a general "fin de siecle" pervading. To the young 
people each day v/as a holiday, no matter how strenuous 
their tasks. The curtain was lifted ; we saw way down the 
vista of the future, with hope our only spiritual possession, 
the Valley of Diamonds, the learning we had longed for. 
Those happy days and enthusiastic pupils soon passed along 
to make room for the entering crowd, soon to be scattered 
to meet their fortune. Some went to the Civil War; others 
to the many professions; some to the Legislature or to Con- 
gress ; some to be Governors of States ; some to the camp 
or the sea ; and others to the courts of foreign countries. 
The women to be teachers, musicians, artists, poets, and 
journalists, wives and mothers. And now over fifty years 
have cast their gleams of brightness and clouds of gloom ; 
comparatively few teachers or pupils remain and nearly all 
these have wandered to seek their homes far away from 
the Alma Mater. 

398 



Reminiscences of Rushford 

"And some we knew, the loveliest and the best, 
That from the vintage rolling Time has prest, 

Have drank their cup, a round or two before, 
And one by one crept silent from the door." 

REMINISCENCES OF RUSHFORD 
C. M. Damon 

NOT being able to respond to invitation to attend the 
Centennial Anniversary and feeling that one's native 
place has a claim upon those to whom she has given birth, 
education and social and religious opportunities — all those 
impulses which in after years make one worth all he is 
worth to himself and society — the writer cheerfully responds, 
and with a sense of gratitude, to the call for reminiscences 
of early life in Rushford. By the way, the very name is 
held dear through all the years of wandering, almost sacred 
whenever heard or seen in print, "If I forget thee. Rush- 
ford, let my right hand forget her cunning." 

My recollection goes back just about sixty years when 
I first "saw the elephant," from the second floor front of 
the "Tarbell House," as it came down the street from Col- 
onel Hardy's in a circus parade. "Aunt Lavinia" had taken 
me across the road, perhaps from Selah Root's in whose 
chair factory the old town clerk, L. C. Kimball, my mother's 
brother, worked in those days. My birthplace was eighty 
or a hundred rods toward Rushford from Hardy's Corners, 
on a farm' then owned by our staid old Methodist black- 
smith, Israel Thompson, grandson of one of early Meth- 
odism's most unique characters. Rev. Benjamin Abbott. 
Later, for ten years, our home^ was a half mile south of the 

1 The Belknap farm. 

2 Geo. Tapp's farm. 

399 



Reminiscences 

Corners. Beyond us, on one side, was Thomas Burns^ who 
early went to Wisconsin, then a very new region, and on the 
other Amizi Clark^ whose son Fred, one of our best play- 
mates, later made a successful escape from a rebel prison in 
the Civil War. Toward Rush ford we passed Isaac Noble, 5 
Enoch Richardson,^ Stephen Hardy, ^ Alpheus Wiltse^ and 
Kingsbury Howe^ who moved to Iowa. Then came Wm. 
Kingsbury, '° one of whose little boys of those days was 
lately a merchant of Rushford, Mr. Warren" by the creek, 
where our old schoolmate and warm friend "Bert" — A. W. 
Warren — now lives, who used to crack butternuts for us and 
race around the old sawmill, climbing its posts and beams 
like a cat and with Nathan and all the school boys make a 
swimming pond of the old milldam. Then were Messrs. 
Benham,'-, Armstrong, '^ Grimard,'4 Robt. English, 's Bel- 
knap,'^ Robt. Morrow, '7 Chamberlain,'^ Phettyplace,'^ and 
Judge Lyon-° and son Eben, the latter father of Martin and 
A. J., whose fine gray team used to stand upright by the 
church steps while waiting for the sleigh to be filled on a 



3 Truman Pratt's farm. 

4 Fayette Adams' farm. 
s C. C. Gould's farm. 

•5 On the Corner. 

7 Addis Thayer's farm. 

8 Christian Belknap's farm. 

9 Evan James' farm. 

'° Geo. Kingsbury's farm. 

11 A. L. Warren's farm. 

12 John Haynes' farm. 
'3 Lucian Pratt's farm. 

'4 Ackerly Company's farm. 

'5 Chas. English's farm. 

''> Jas. Wilson's farm. 

'7 John Lyon's and Walter Howard's farms. 

i8 Chas. Baker's farm. 

19 Mrs. Mary Grinnel's farm. 

20 D. M. Seeley's farm. 

400 



Reminiscences of Rush ford 

winter Sabbath. Next on the right was Uncle Tom Pratt^' 
or more reverently Rev. Thomas Pratt, opposite the Gordon, 
gristmill, an old landmark, and on through Gordonville 
there lived Rev. \VilIiam Gordon — L'ncle Bill — respected, 
retired minister and business man, Morton Pratt (who 
claimed, "These boys who never did anything wrong don't 
know anything about preaching; it takes a devil to make 
a preacher"), Jed. Gordon and Avery Washburne of the 
woolen mill, my carpenter uncle, Martin Damon, who said, 
"What's worth doing is worth doing well," and others. Far- 
ther on was the shoe shop of Mr. Doland whose sign read, 

"I work for those who pay the best, 
And when Pve time I serve the rest. 

I've trusted many to my sorrow. 
Pay today, I'll trust tomorrow." 
Entering the village by the lower street, among many 
others were the homes of Squire Brooks, "Old Dr. Stacy," 
who told Rachel Metcalf the devil never told the truth but 
once, that was when he said, "All that a man hath will he 
give for his life" (and that was not true), and Squire Hap- 
good whose little grandson, the late Governor Higgins, called 
him "My Pa," and the genial, gentlemanly O. T. Higgins 
"My Father." There was M. D. Higgins who sold a woman 
some eggs in the other's store. She started off and then 
called back, "Are they good ?" "I guess so," was his reply, 
"if not, bring them back and I'll pay you all they are worth." 
There was the Methodist parsonage and Lawyer Laning^'^ 
and Isaiah Lathrop. Turning up street, we passed between 
the Lathrop stores and Griffin's, between Thompson's and 
Howser's blacksmith shops, past the Baptist Church, as now 
to the Methodist Church or beyond. 

21 H. B. Ackerley's farm. 
*R. Bonhain Laning. 

40 r 



Reminiscences 

Returning to our Hardy's Corners home : Those were 
the days of clearing land, of loggings, piling and burning 
brush and logs, of driving oxen with crotch drags between 
the stumps of clearings, of crooked rail fences, of hunting 
cows by sound of bell in wood lots, of shivering with fear in 
the dusk of evening because of neighborhood talk of a pan- 
ther having been seen, days of ditching to drain off swamps 
and ponds, days of barn raisings where the heavy bents 
framed from trees hauled from the woods were raised with 
pike poles, of corn huskings, apple parings, spelling schools 
and the like. The old schoolhouse with its high wall seat, be- 
hind a row of high desks with perpendicular fronts and a low 
narrow seat for us little ones who of course deserved noth- 
ing better (?), circling two sides and an end of the room, 
stood on the township and county line half in Allegany 
County and half in Cattaraugus. There, with its slab with 
four rough legs for a recitation seat, Kimber Smith taught 
and DeBias Worthington with wonderfully sharp ears and 
''eyes in the back of his head" as it seemed to us, and Esther 
Woods whose jingle of merry song and lively questions 
would put order, life, and enthusiasm for study in a school 
in two minutes. There the writer, at three years of age, 
had his first tuition by Christiann Wilmarth who .still lives 
within a few steps from where he was born, the respected 
mother of Ellis Belknap. There, or in the new schoolhouse 
])laced on the Rushford side of the line, Amanda Squires of 
Farmersville, later ]\Irs. L. A. Root of Rushford, gave him 
his first thorough training, at about seven years of age. in 
(_"olburn's "Mental Arithmetic," and there also Robert Nor- 
ton of the Pine Apple Cheese Factory, later a prominent 
Presbyterian minister, dying in Cincinnati past eighty, vis- 
ited the school as superintendent and talked to us children 
so excellently as to make a lifelong impression. 

402 



Reminiscences of Rush ford 

Once a year Brother D. S. Damon and myself had the 
hberty of a visit to Grandfather Kimball's. He was of Puri- 
tan descent, a Massachusetts family in New Hampshire, later 
in Central New York and coming to Rush ford from Cath- 
erine, Schuyler County, in 1820. He kept store for a 
time and then located near the county line northwest of town. 
Our road turned north from Wm. Kingsbury's over a rough 
corduroy through a swamp, past Uncle Johnny Moore's and 
later the Tapp's and Agett's, past Kimber Smith's and his 
father's and Micah Hall's on through woods to our destina- 
tion. A little farther west lived Hosea Persons, and at one 
time Wm. Babbitt. After staying over night and having 
a taste of grandmother's peaches, a great luxury, and a visit 
with Uncles Andrew and Addison, we went east by Nahum 
Ames's, down past Norman Beecher's and others and then 
"cross lots" down the hill to Alonzo Damon's on the "Creek" 
or Bufifalo Road. West and northwest of him toward Fair- 
view where Elijah Lyman and sons Alonzo and Densmore, 
Columbus Ely and John Hill. Aunt Roxy Damon made 
cheese in their powerful home-made press, the whole process 
a great curiosity to us, and the well-kept farm, thrifty build- 
ings, excellent stock, vogorous sugarbush and good orchard, 
with a red sweet apple as a special treat to us, made our 
visit with our cousins very enjoyable. Returning home the 
third day past the road leading to the Gordons, Fletcher, 
Bowen and "Uncle Jim," and the Metcalfs, by Alonzo Far- 
well. Gardner George and Eliab Benjamin, whose sons were 
our intimate friends, we passed through the village and on, 
a walk of about seven miles, enough for the grit and health 
of little fellows as we then were. 

Among suitable recollections of those days should be 
mentioned Elder Simpson's trip on horseback past our place 
soliciting subscriptions for building the Academy, which 

403 



Reminiscences 

became under the administration of Prof. Sayles one of the 
best and best known academies of the State. Many persons 
of marked abihty and influence in pubhc hfe were educated 
within its walls, possibly chief among them the well known 
Senator Teller of Colorado. Father contributed according 
to his limited ability and worked it out with his team on the 
basement, and later moved near enough to get the benefit 
for his family. Speaking of Elder Simpson, one among 
many able pastors of the Baptist Church, his influence was 
marked for good. He was public spirited, enthusiastic, evan- 
gelistic, capable. He was thoroughly alive to the interests 
of the church, a reformer who counted not his reputation 
dear unto himself, so that he might stem the tide of world- 
liness in church or community. He dared to make enemies, 
and perhaps that is a principal reason for this commenda- 
tion from a Methodist standpoint. He was worthy to be 
loved for the enemies he made. 

The educational zeal of the citizens was commendable. 
Frequent lectures or lecture courses with such speakers as 
Horace Mann, the father of American education, Horace 
Greeley, the great American journalist, Frederick Douglass, 
the marvelous colored orator and leader of his race who 
with his thunderous voice roared, "They say the negro's 
voice is feeble," together with singing schools and conven- 
tions gave valuable opportunity for both entertainment and 
improvement. Among occasional lectures should be noted 
those of Moran on astronomy, Bement on Oriental travel, 
and Professor Sayles on science and philosophy. Rushford 
had many strong men in that day and many a family branch- 
ing out in a way to do Roosevelt's heart good. Think of the 
Gordons, Woodses, Pecks, Persons, Benjamins, McCalls, 
Hardys, Taylors and others. No race suicide there. 

The churches were strong in members and in the marked 

404 



Reminiscences of Rushford 

ability of many of them, intellectual, financial and social, and 
compared favorably with others in the ability of the pastor- 
ate and qualities of spiritual life. There was much interest- 
in the Sabbath Schools, encouraged by annual celebrations 
(wiser in their instructions than in the over- feasting). Pious 
parents gave attention to family prayers and children were 
required to commit the Scripture lesson to memory. The 
Sabbath had not then been demoralized by the running of 
railroad trains, publishing and hawking of newspapers, and 
other corrupting influences of a European rationalistic and 
skeptical type. It awaited the violence .of the Civil War 
to begin this fearful downward trend. 

As to patriotism, Rushford was at least abreast of her 
sister towns throughout the State and the loyal part of the 
nation. She contributed her quota to the grand moral up- 
rising which saved Kansas from becoming a slave State. 
There, in the wild excitement of the John Brown days, 
Johnny Stewart was murdered by the Missouri border men. 
and his mother's brain reeled under the shock. Randolph 
Worthington was by his side a few minutes after he was 
shot, and later was on a Missouri River boat in the pres- 
ence of the ruffian who did the deed. And there, during 
the war. Jimmie Prime was shot by Ouantrell's gang when 
they sacked Lawrence. And as to what was done when the 
dreadful clash of bloody war came on we give elsewhere a 
striking sketch in a private letter of the time. (See page 
307. ) And if a record of conflict and casualties of the noble 
army of Rushford martyrs for freedom, is desired, why does 
not my old friend and schoolmate the capable and qualified 
Rev. H. C. Woods write up the history? He was in the 
thick of the fight and lost his excellent mother by an acci- 
dental result of battle. Were I to elaborate on this line, I 
should desire to call attention to Gilbert DeLa^NIatyr's "dark 

405 



Reminiscences 

lantern" lecture in the little church in his father's neigh- 
borhood, toward Cuba, during the Fremont campaign of 
'56, to the thrills of pain and dark forboding when Nathan 
Warren rode up to our barnyard at chore time and called out, 
"Johnnie Stewart has been killed by the border ruffians," 
to the anguish of the first real sense of war when my broth- 
ers came from town one evening after I had gone to bed 
and called from the chamber door, "There has been a great 
battle (the first fJull Run) and John Bishop and Albert 
Babbitt are killed." O the heart sickening horror! And 
then to think of our beloved Warren Persons starving to 
death in Andersonville ! About the same time my brother 
Albert died of wounds in hospital ! These are some of the 
items that continually thrilled and killed until the final heart- 
sick shock of Lincoln's assassination was called out by a 
passing neighbor, and we felt as though there was one dead 
in every home. 

But I should not be true to the deepest elements of my 
own life and the strongest influences of early association 
did I not particularize and enlarge somewhat more on the 
memories of the Methodist Church in which I was raised. 
Among pastors J remember the names of McEwen, Cheney, 
Shelling noted for elo(|uence, Roberts, most scholarly of all. 
Hunt, afterward one of the most prominent names of the 
denomination, being connected with the Book Rooms in 
New York (I slept with him one night at the house of his 
brother during my first pastorate in northern Iowa), and 
Milo Scott, a giant in size and stature, under whose admin- 
istration I was taken into the church and baptized with 
Edwin Weaver, Frank Warren and others. Milo Scott 
was a man we children delighted to see drive up to our 
home. In his family there was no need for liquor, tobacco, 
tea or coffee. Jason G. Miller was the pastor who held the 

406 



Reminiscences of Rush ford 

great revival of 1857-1858, one of the most powerful I have 
ever known. Earlier in life Miller had been a professor and 
presumably a possessor of entire hoHness, "the peculiar 
despositum of Methodism," and one who has ever truly en- 
tered into that blessed experience is hardly likely to lose the 
savor of its influence. The meeting began at East Rush ford 
where some very powerful conversions occurred and then 
was brought to Rushford where it went forward in great 
power. It was a winter of almost universal revivings through- 
out the country. It was the winter of the starting of the cele- 
brated Fulton Street prayer meeting in New York where 
the noted pugilist "Awful" (Orville) Gardner was con- 
verted. The preaching was with tremendous energy and 
power and the testimonies of the converts were convincing 
in demonstration of the reality of sins forgiven and a 
changed heart. What a flood of names comes to mind 
of those then brought in ! Among them George Worthing- 
ton, Charles English, Allen Burr, the VanDusen girls, Jenny 
Jagers, Nelson Kingsbury and wife, Warren Persons and 
many, many more. The church became noted for Miller's 
Conference, a regular circuit of outlying church or school- 
house appointments filled by ten or twelve local preacher? 
and exhorters. 

Miller's sandy hair stood up straight all over his head. 
His wrinkled face was emphasized by remarkable scowls 
in jjreaching and with a peculiar twist of his head and 
drawl of voice, without oratory, art or affectation, the cen- 
ter shots of awakening, convicting truth would pierce the 
joints of armor and find a lodgment in the heart of saint 
or sinner, flis introductory sermon followed the slow, 
peculiar reading of Acts 10 for a Scripture lesson. Cornelius 
said to Peter after explaining the occasion of sending for 
him, "Now, therefore are we all here present before God, to 

407 



Reminiscences 

hear all things that are commanded thee of God." With- 
out looking up, head tipped to one side, and with the pecu- 
liar drawl referred to, he commented, "Much — better — than 
— to come stringing along in — during — the reading of — the 
second — hymn." Here was due notice served to be on hand 
in time and to expect to hear not man's word but God's. 
And so it was at every turn, class meeting, prayer meeting, 
Sabbath School, or preaching service, until we were in a 
flame of revival. As one said of his very awkward preach- 
ing, "His sermons stand up on legs and when he's done you 
can see them." The salient points were clear, forcible and 
impressive. The writer, then about twelve years old, prob- 
ably remembers more of his sermons, after fifty years, than 
those of any other person he has ever heard, unless it be 
B. T. Roberts, whose forcible, lawyer-like style was also 
very impressive. 

A TYPICAL LOVE FEAST. 

The early custom of Methodism to admit members by 
quarterly tickets, which enabled pastors to quietly set aside 
those who were disposed to depart from her Scriptural 
rules and customs in apparel or other worldly practices and 
pleasures, had dropped out of use, but the departure in our 
part of the Conference was not so prominent as farther 
north. There was great love for the church and interest in 
spiritual worship. Our members lived in every direction 
within a radius of five miles. But such a distance, where 
there was a dairy of cows or certainly a variety of stock 
to make much choring, and children to prepare, called for 
early rising and brisk work to reach town before nine o'clock, 
especially in winter. On ordinary occasions if the team was 
before the door at nine o'clock and children ready to be 
loaded in, we were all right, but now we must be in our 

408 



Reminiscences of Rushford 

places 1)_\ nine o'clock sharp. After the present church was 
huilt the love feast was held below in what came to be 
called the Lecture Room. The Quarterly Meeting had be- 
gun with preaching Friday evening, Quarterly Conference 
and perhaps preaching Saturday afternoon, and preaching 
in the evening again. Sunday was the great day when the 
Presiding Elder was to preach and administer the Lord's 
Supper. But the feast of joyous brotherly communion and 
loving fellowship commenced at nine o'clock. There was 
the Scripture reading, a hymn, and prayer. Bread and 
water as tokens of a fellowship meal were passed around, not 
of Divine ordinance but a prudential arrangement for spir- 
itual growth, and another informal hymn or song was 
started. The spirit of the occasion must be kept in mind. 
It was not, strictly speaking, a public service. It was a 
family gathering of those who had been saved and blessed by 
the offices of the church and whose hearts were already 
warm with gratitude and love for the brethren through 
whose instrumentality such good had come. If any wished 
to criticize and find fault with the egotism of the church 
their place was outside. We were here to "boast in the 
Lord" and in all the confidence and privacy of full fellow- 
ship talk out our love for each other and for Methodism — 
the Methodist Church. If Father Metcalf who needed not 
a book from which to read the Scriptures, an old pioneer 
preacher who loved "the old paths," was present, he might 
be the first to speak. But probably it was "L^ncle Bill" as 
Father Gordon was affectionately called. If not it was 
Father Gofif sitting up in the end of one of the seats by the 
side of the pulpit, tall, angular, bald-headed, full of fire 
and fervor, who once got so blessed at a meeting at East 
Rushford that he forgot his horse and walked home, leaving 
it tied there, and never thought of it till he went out to 

409 



Reminiscences 

feed it next morning. He would tell of his conversion, his 
joy in the Lord, his love for the brethren and the church, 
his near prospect of Heaven, of having more friends over 
on the other side than here below, and feeling that 

"His raptured soul would gladly stay 

In such a frame as this. 
And sit and sing herself away 

To everlasting bliss." 

Sitting down, perhaps, amid shouts and praises of the con- 
gregation ; as they began to catch fire, Clark Woods would 
start up some appropriate hymn to fan the fervor of feeling 
and the meeting was well under motion. Then Aunt Nancy 
Woods, of sterling integrity, an old pioneer, one of the very 
first in the settlement of the town and held in high esteem 
for her works' sake, would jump up and run away with the 
meeting. And there was Avery Washburn, most beloved 
and successful of Sabbath School superintendents, still living 
in Topeka, Kansas, past ninety years of age, and Israel 
Thompson, whose reverential prayer invariably included, "O 
Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth !" 
And there was Isaac Stone whose corpulent body would 
always shake with quiet, subdued, but hearty laughter under 
the influence of the Holy Spirit, after testimony, and Sister 
Stone so gentle and sympathetic toward the "lambs of the 
flock," and Uncle John Worthington, blessed man, whose 
vehement, fiery exhortation far exceeded in effect those of 
any ordinary preacher, and Lowell Farwell who used to 
say humbly in leading class, "Brethren, I wish I was a bet- 
ter man." There was Levi Metcalf whose warm grasp of 
the hand was a lasting benediction, who delighted to en- 
courage the boys, who felt the call of God, to get a start 
by taking them around to a schoolhouse appointment and 

410 



Reminiscences of Rushford 

giving them a breaking in, and Cornelia, still living, and 
Uncle Ely Woods who sometimes got "on his high heeled 
shoes" in testimony, and A. W. E. Damon with voice husky 
and choking with emotion as he spoke of his love for the 
church in which he had been powerfully converted at nine- 
teen years of age and in which his wife and five children 
were joined with him in fellowship. And again there was 
Pluma Persons, warm friend of my mother, and Arminda 
Peck, and Mary Ann Lyon and her mother, and Aunt 
Maria Benjamin who made such a record of Sabbath School 
attendance down to old age. But how shall I go on to name 
the scores of those waiting for an opportunity to speak? 
There were converts with faces all aglow with consciousness 
of Christ within, ready to tell of the witness of the spirit, 
of the temptation and conflict but also of the joy and the 
victory. A few more should be specially named. Allen Burr, 
a school teacher with vigorous mind, had but one leg. He 
stood on one foot and a crutch and told what God had done 
for his soul. "I was three days seeking God and that was 
just three days too long." Speaking privately with a Spir- 
itualist in Farmersville who was trying to explain spiritual 
things from that standpoint. Allen responded, "You don't 
know any more about it than my old cane !" He became 
the husband of Minerva Bullock, later Mrs. M. E. Roberts, 
the most prominent ^Methodist woman of Nebraska. In 
about one year Allen went triumphantly home to Heaven, 
and as Minerva rode home from the grave on her lonely 
seat a comforting voice within said, "I am not alone for 
Jesus is right here with me on the seat." There was War- 
ren Persons saying with peculiar emphasis, "Brethren, I— 
do — not — consider — that T am to keep my religion but — 
that — my religion — is — to — keep — me." Some older heads 
remarked that he would probably find he would have to keep 

411 



Reminiscences 

it, if it kept him. How blessed to know that it so kept him 
that he was able to send home a testimony from amid the 
horrors of Andersonville, in the near approach of certain 
death by starvation. And there was the converted Catholic 
girl, Jennie Jagers, who testified and exhorted with such 
power that when one said, "That girl ought to have a license 
to exhort," Elijah Metcalf, himself lately reclaimed, re- 
plied, "She has one already!" Gustavus Noble had been 
greatly addicted to swearing. After his conversion he said. 
"I never thought of swearing but just once, when I slipped 
down in the mud. It came right up to my throat but I 
stopped it." Sadly enough, about a year later he fell back. 
The first intimation we had of it was when Rod (Roswell) 
Wilmarth, a wild but jolly fellow, said, "I guess Gustave 
is backsliding, I saw him driving his horse pretty fast the 
other day." When Sister Kingsbury was going forward 
for prayers in the great congregation, some one was sympa- 
thizing with her for having to do such a hard thing 

but she responded, "I would go to B W 's grocery 

and get down and pray there if I could get saved." On 
another occasion she said, 'T hugged the Bible to my bosom 
and all the while it was taking my very heart out." There 
was good Mary Thomson, Samuel's daughter, always de- 
siring "to be cleansed from the last and least remains of 
sin" and possibly never learning that life's long desires 
without an act of definite faith would fail to realize it. 
But the time had expired, the pastor's report of finances 
and membership changes for the quarter was given in, and 
with joyous hand shakings and friendly greetings we were 
ready for the meeting above. 

How can I close these reminiscences of fifty years ago 
without naming such old teachers and students of the Acad- 
emy and Philomathean Lyceum as Profs. Buck and Dean, 



412 



Reminiscences of Rush ford 

Prof. Albee who later brought up the State Normal School 
of Oshkosli, Wisconsin, from fifty to one thousand in at- 
tendance, the Bonds, Morgan, Lathe Higgins, Hiram Coats, 
F. E. Woods, Charlie Brown and Eugene Hammond. 

In an attempt to revive the departed glory and strength 
of the Lyceum, aided by my friend L. L. Benjamin and 
the young women of their society, I was carried many miles 
to engage the able and genial Will Crawford to meet me 
in public debate, confident that if defeated (there was no 
vote) it would be honor enough to be beaten by such as he. 

Fifty years have passed since Aunt Nancy Woods and 
Uncle Tom Pratt aroused such enthusiasm at the former 
anniversary. Uncle Andrew Kimball once conducted me 
through the old cemetery where my grandfather lies (I was 
lifted to look at his face at his funeral) and gave me nar- 
ratives of some, the records of whose deaths go back almost 
to 1820. When fifty years more have rolled around those 
who celebrate will read our names, if at all, as of those who 
lived in the long ago. 

How swift the torrent rolls 

That bears us to the sea ; 
The tide that hurries thoughtless souls 

To vast eternity. 

Our fathers, where are they. 

With all they called their own? 
Their joys and griefs, and hopes and cares, 

And wealth and honor, gone. 

Note — Mr^:. Susan Beecher of Elmira is the only living child 
of Nathan C. Kimball. 



413 



Reminiscences 

RUSH FORD AND RUSHFORD PEOPLE 

Mary E. Lane 

THE little white village among the hills, a name by which 
I have sometimes spoken of Rushford, is a place 
where many of the friendships and affections of my life 
were born. A ministerial friend who used to visit us there 
once called upon me here. We were speaking of one of our 
villages and I said, "It is not a pretty place like Rushford; 
at least I always thought Rushford a pretty village." He 
replied, "It is, I thought so too." It pleased me to hear this 
expression of opinion corroborative of mine, for the gentle- 
man is a born artist and I knew that a sketch of the village 
from his fingers would be a little gem. It was picturesque 
in approaching it from whichever direction. The houses 
were mostly white, the school building centrally located and 
the churches, of which there were four, were also white, 
and the green hills nestled lovingly around it as though to 
bestow upon it their protection and caresses and to give 
faithful promise of their constant guardianship and care. 
The house which we owned and where we lived for seven 
years, gave from the sitting-room window a view of the old 
cemetery and the ascent beyond. There were many trees 
there; some of them seemed to be of the aspen variety 
for when clothed with their summer verdure they trembled 
and glistened in the sunlight with a lovely frostlike appear- 
ance which delighted the eye. while farther on the slope rose 
gradually and gracefully to distant hill-tops crowned with 
majestic elms. There are plenty of elms in this level coun- 
try and near where I live but they never seem so stately as 
when I saw them growing on the hills of old Allegany 
County which was my home for so many years. 

I first knew Rushford in 1859, the year of my marriage, 
414 



Rush ford and Rush ford People 

ill our frecinent drives over from Centerville where my hus- 
band was preaching and had been for seven years, long 
enough to know (juite intimately many of the people in the 
neighboring towns. Often we were invited there on occa- 
sions of interest, or socially, as the case might be. Usually 
at such times we stopped at Mr. Galpin's and Mrs. Galpin 
was my first lady acquaintance and friend in Rushford. 
To use a homely but expressive phrase, their latch string 
was always out. and we were often sharers of the welcome 
and hospitality so characteristic of that pleasant home. 
What friends of "auld lang syne" we met and what ties of 
dear association were cemented there. But the "vanished 
hand" and the "voice that is still" is ever the story of the 
past and will be until the great home-coming and reunion 
above. I remember one memorable occasion when we were 
invited to Rushford. It was one Fourth of July, and we 
were to come to Mr. Galpin's to meet other friends and 
from there we were to repair to Mr. Hardy's orchard to 
listen to the orator of the day, a gentleman from New York 
whose name I do not remember but who had consented to 
come for a consideration of one hundred dollars. Great 
preparations had been made to render the day a success and 
a large and expectant audience filled the seats. There were 
brass bands and other music and singing. The ministers 
and other dignitaries were present to honor the occasion 
and lend what interest they could. The people were enthus- 
iastic and patriotic. The national colors were in evidence. 

"Naught lacked they in that splendid show 
Of pomp or color, gleam or glow." 

Forming one very attractive feature were young ladies 
representing the states in number, attired in white fresh as 
the morning, with sashes of red. white and blue draped 



415 



Reminiscences 

diagonally over one shoulder and floating gracefully below 
the waist with an effect which was exceedingly pleasing and 
unique. All the preliminaries having been attended to, the 
speaker began his address, but scarcely was he launched 
upon a full tide of eloquence and the attention of his hear- 
ers fairly arrested when an imperative whisper from my 
husband warned me to flee. "Stand not upon the order of 
your going but go at once," seemed to be spirit of the 
mandate, and I fled quite unable to resist yet hardly realiz- 
ing why, and our little party reached Mr. Galpin's door just 
in time to escape the onslaught of the downpour that broke 
up the well-planned order of the day. The people fled pell- 
mell ; the poor States went scurrying by with garments 
drenched and starchless but with colors intensified by the 
unsparing rain. Everyone who wore a color looked bril- 
liant. Not an umbrella to lend protection to the fugitives, 
all sought shelter as best they could. The speaker with such 
gentlemen as were so inclined went to the town hall where 
he pieced together his discourse in whatever way he was 
able. But for us the day did not turn out ill, for a large 
company of us went to the house of Mr. Stebbins where 
we had a fine time and partook of a splendid repast. We 
can laugh at the rain when it is over and- it is the only time 
I ever knew it to interfere seriously with the plans and 
pleasures of the people of Rushford. 

In the year 1868 my husband was invited to take charge 
of the Presbyterian Church of Rushford and he preached 
there nine years. Upon our arrival at the house we were 
to occupy, we found that the people had preceded us. Every- 
thing had been reduced to order, a long table had been set 
in one of the rooms and a nice supper was awaiting us. The 
ceremony of an introduction was almost unneeded, such 
unaffected cordiality prevailed and such bright good-will 

416 



Rushford and Rushford People 

shone in every face and was heard in every welcoming voice; 
a memory I treasure even now. During my husband's min- 
istry in Rushford regular services were held in the church 
Sabbath morning and evening, a Sabbath School and Bible 
classes were maintained, also a weekly prayer meeting and 
other stated services of the church. The singing was usu- 
ally exceptionally good, there were good voices and our 
choir was often praised. The young ladies who played the 
organ successively were Misses Marion Woodworth, Julia 
Thompson, Myra Blanchard, Delia Howser and May White. 
The elders of the church were Wm. T. Galpin, David 
Thomas, Jr., Archibald Adams, and Barnes Blanchard, who 
also held the office of Deacon, of whom there were two 
others, namely. Deacon David Thomas, Sr., and Deacon 
Peck, all men of sterling character and much respected in 
the community. Nelson Blanchard was the Superintendent 
of the Sabbath School and I was his assistant until, owing 
to the failure of his health, he resigned, which I also did 
after several years of service, and David Thomas, Jr., and 
Mrs. Cynthia Woodworth were elected in our stead. Dur- 
ing my husband's ministry the church was put in beautiful 
order, papered in fresco, as was then thought suitable, a 
new carpet and very handsome pulpit chairs, a new organ,, 
bell, and Sabbath School library, were bought. The min- 
ister's salary was raised and all the benevolences of the 
church were liberally contributed to, and this was done not 
by the aid of church boards but by the people, and wholly 
at their own expense through the interest that had been 
awakened. One pleasant remembrance I have, I will men- 
tion here, the yearly visit of the ladies of the church and 
society at our house. They always set a nice table, provid- 
ing their own repast, and we were treated as invited guests. 
Their supper was choice and beautifully served, no one 

417 



Reminiscences 
knew how to do that better than they ; this hospitahty of 
theirs was charming. They simply resolved themselves 
into a committee of the whole to see that everything was 
right, and it always was. It frequently happened that more 
than one of these receptions would take place during the 
year. 

The Rush ford people were very social. There would 
be a succession of visits, teas and dinners and it would re- 
quire more time than I have at command to tell of all the 
houses where we were delightfully entertained. There 
were also festivals, picnics and other events of general in- 
terest, but most of all I enjoyed the Christmas Tree occa- 
sions at the church. It was not too large to admit of a 
good deal of decoration and we availed ourselves of the 
opportunity for the gratification of individual taste. I loved 
the rich scent of the fresh hemlock and delighted to twine 
wreaths for doors and windows and to elaborate crosses, 
harps and anchors to adorn the walls. In truth it would 
look like a perfect bower. I have never seen anything 
lovelier in any church before or since. At one time, I am 
reminded, there was to be a Christmas Tree at the church 
and I wanted a new dress for the occasion but had resolved 
that I would buy only the lower priced goods. I went to 
the store of Mr. Higgins and while I was there Mrs. Homer 
Brooks came in. She saw the material I was looking at 
and immediately called my attention to a beautiful piece of 
dark-blue cashmere. It was lovely in color and texture 
and was held up before me alluringly but I turned away 
from the attractive bait, purchased my cheap goods and had 
it made up; and I wore it contentedly thinking it would 
do very well for me. But when it came to the distribution 
of the gifts a package was put into my hands which proved 
to be the lovely dark-blue cashmere itself — a present to 

418 



Rushford and Rushford People 
me from my friends. I expressed my surprise and pleas- 
ure as best I could and Mrs. Brooks said, "As soon as I 
saw you looking at that cheap goods I made up my mind 
you should have the other." You may be sure it was very 
much appreciated and it did me good service for a long 
time. 

When we first came to Rushford we lived in a house 
owned by Henry Kirke White. It was their home but they 
were willing to rent it to us and we lived there a year. 
This led to an acquaintanceship with the several families of 
the Whites, which was delightful. We found in them 
friends who could be trusted, and there were none whom 
my husband esteemed more highly as men of integrity and 
as his personal friends than the brothers Washington, Quincy 
and Henry Kirke, and this regard equally included Mr. 
Samuel White, the father of the brothers, whose home 
was with his daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes 
Blanchard, who were then our nearest neighbors (the 
m.other, Mrs. Samuel White, was also living at this time). 
He died May 15, 1874, and my husband officiated at his 
funeral which was attended by a large concourse of peo- 
ple. The reading was from I Corinthians, 15 :20-28, and 
three points were made as follows: i. Power Infinite can 
raise the dead. 2. Sufifering life is death, not mere nat- 
ural change unburdened and unaccelerated. 3. A self- 
determined life is also a subordinate life. Source and se- 
quence cannot be parted. We are the offspring of God. 
"In Plim we live and move and have our being." Hence 
immortality is certain, for however long life may travel it 
cannot annul its connection with its cause. God cannot 
be transcended; all things shall "be subject unto Him that 
put all things under Him that God may be all in all." Mr. 
Lane in his notice adds that Mr. White, who was in his 

419 



Reminiscences 

eightieth year, had descended from the Pilgrims in direct 
line from Peregrine White, the first child born after their 
landing. Himself, an orphan at twelve years, honorably 
made his own way. He was married to Percy Snow at 
the age of twenty-four and removed from Vermont to 
Rushford where he resided constantly for fifty-two years. 
He speaks also of a daughter then living in Warsaw, New 
York, and another son who had been given in the late war 
and he adds "children and grandchildren will greatly miss 
him from his place. Rushford has lost a citizen, a man 
superior, just, temperate, virtuous, faithful, without osten- 
tation in every public and private station. He was a gen- 
tleman of the older school of men." He also mentions our 
attendance at his golden wedding in 1868, an event which I 
well remember. Mr. Barnes Blanchard (nephew of an- 
other of the same name previously spoken of) and Mrs. 
Stella Blanchard were among our most valued friends. 

The Talcott family, consisting of Mrs. Talcott and her 
children, her husband having previously died, were living 
a short distance from the village but were always steady 
attendants at the church. Mrs. Talcott was a woman of 
beautiful Christian character; her profession was more 
than a name and the influence of her sincere but unpretend- 
ing life told the story of her devotion and deep attachment 
to the Lord and to His cause. In returning from a journey 
taken for restoration to health, she saw the lights shining 
from the windows of the church, where the people had as- 
sembled for prayer, and said she "would like to be with 
them," but she had returned only to die. My husband and 
I visited her at this time and I well remember the untroubled 
expression of her calm, sweet face, as that of one fearless in 
view of the great change awaiting her and she said in 
answer to the thought of going to be forever with the 

420 



Rush ford and Rush ford People 

Lord "that would be better." And it was better, for all is 
well for those who die in the love and service of Christ. 
She was a sister of Warren McKinney, for many years a 
valued member of the church. Of the Talcott family only 
one remains, the youngest daughter, Mrs. McKee. The 
other daughter, Mrs. Homer Brooks, was one whom I can 
never forget and if I attempted to relate the specialties of 
my acquaintance with her the tears would be falling on 
my paper. In how many ways and how thoroughly her 
friendship was proven during all the varied fortunes of 
our Rushford Hfe! No trouble could fall upon us which 
it was not her endeavor to dispel or lighten, and if she 
could not drive it away she would at least be a sharer in it. 
Her helpfulness, her hospitality, her sympathy, each forms 
a link in a chain of memory unbroken yet. 

Unbroken still and never to be broken. 

Although from lip to lip no word is spoken. 

Although from heart there comes no token. 

A radiance from the future faith can borrow, 

Even the brilliance of a better morrow. 

Where love still lives and joy shall banish sorrow. 

When it was known that my husband had not long to 
stay with us, she was the first who came, staying until all 
was over. When words were unavailing, her tears fell 
with mine and her hand brought its ever ready ministry of 
comfort; and afterward whether in loneliness, sickness or 
the broken-heartedness of grief I could look for her en- 
trance. I knew she would be sure to come. Her charac- 
ter was essentially one of beautiful trueness. Her home 
was the last I entered in Rushford, her table the last to 
v/hich I sat down. She never failed me and truly it has 
been said, "We know not until we behold the parting wing 

421 



Reminiscences 

that an angel has been with us." Her brothers, Samuel and 
Henry, were esteemed and popular young men. Their 
friendship for my husband was unvarying and manifested in 
many ways. We were living in Centerville when Henry 
died and we heard of the sad event at the funeral of Mrs. 
Laura Higgins, to Mr. Lane a friend of many years and a 
woman of interesting personality. Frail as he was in health 
it seemed a double stroke to him, but nothing could have 
prevented his presence there, and I remember how with 
streaming eyes he stood by the casket of his beloved young 
friend. It was the last funeral at which he ever officiated. 
Samuel's death occurred after the death of my husband and 
I had then removed to Batavia. In notices sent me at the 
time I read that when his death was announced "there was 
the hush of a great sorrow and all felt the blow of a per- 
sonal affliction." The Olean Times is quoted thus, "Mr. 
Talcott was a gentleman of high character and standing, 
honorable and successful in business, generous, large- 
hearted and companionable, and his death while in the prime 
of a useful life will be deeply regretted by all who came 
within the wide circle of his acquaintance." It is in af- 
fectionate remembrance that I lay this heart-wreath upon 
the graves of Samuel and Henry Talcott. 

The people of Rush ford were very considerate of any 
who needed assistance and on a certain time two young 
ladies, namely, Miss Mary Lathrop and Miss Ellen Green, 
now Mrs. Nye, called upon me just as I was upon the eve 
of departure for a short journey. They had planned for an 
affair at the hall, the proceeds to be used to assist a family, 
and in arranging their program they wanted an original 
contribution from me. I did not refuse or quite consent 
but I distinctly discouraged the idea. "I could not write 
anything very worthy, for when I came back the affair 

422 



Rush ford and Rush ford People 

would be so immediately at hand as to leave me very insuffi- 
cient time for preparation." But they evidently did not 
look upon the matter in that light for upon my return before 
I had time for removing my hat both young ladies appeared 
again. They knew what they wanted and how to win. This 
time I did not refuse but casting housekeeping and other 
cares to the winds I sat down and addressed myself to 
poetry, feeling very sure that I had no time to lose. I was 
ready at the moment when called for and not much before. 
I think the event must have been successful as it was re- 
peated on another evening and to a full house each time. 
My poem was in two parts and as it was written in Rush- 
ford and for Rush ford it may add somewhat to the interest 
of my narrative if I copy Part First in this manuscript: 

RENEWAL. 

Softly now the morning light 
Ushers in the blushing May, 
Twining in her tresses bright. 

Buds and blossoms gay. 

Mark the rainbow round her head, 
See the emerald robe she wears. 
Let the music of her tread 

Drive away our cares. 

Smiling April would not wait, 
But through sunset's open door 
Fled and closed the outer gate 
Just the day before. 

But the bees a welcome bring 
In a hum of happy words 
423 



Reminiscences 
And the brightening woodlands ring 
With the songs of birds. 

Burst from bondage leaps the brook 
Laughing to the balmy morn 
And in many a fragrant nook 
Violets are born. 

In the forest cool and deep 
Where the warbling waters glide, 
Where the tender ivies creep 
And the mosses hide, 

Crowned and kingly elms arise 
With ^their coronals of green 
Towering to the far-off skies 

And the clouds between. 

Clouds that break in freshening showers 
Watering all the verdant earth, 
Baptism of the blessed hours 

And the world's new birth, 

Born again to beauty bright 
Out of winter's frozen tomb. 
Into loveliness and light 

Into joy and bloom, 

Blossoms blushing underfoot, 
Blossoms breaking from the sod, 
Blossoms pregnant with the fruit 
From the heart of God. 



424 



Rushford and Rush ford People 

Fragrant orchards bend and sway 
Sweetly to the sighing gale 
And the whispering zephyrs play 
With their branches pale. 

Lilacs lift their purple freight, 
While, by some EoHan tune 
Lulled, the slumbering roses wait 
For the kiss of June. 

Sunshine tinges all the plains, 
Woos the verdure on the hills, 
Warms the maple's flowing veins, 
Sparkles in the rills, 

Decks the daisy-haunted spots. 
Lingers in the leafy shades. 
Courts the blue forget-me-nots 
On the upland glades. 

Throbs and thrills in nature's heart. 
Reaches to its inmost shrine. 
Makes its quickened pulses start 
With a Hfe divine. 

With unstinted hand adorns, 
Showers around a wealth untold. 
Spreads with white the crested thorns, 
Dots the meads with gold. 

Sighs and sounds and scents of spring. 
Varied with delicious grace, 
Breathe and move in everything 

And through every place. 

425 



Reminiscences 

If on embassy divine 
Some fair seraph stayed his flight 
Where these glowing landscapes shine 
Bathed in golden light, 

Would he deem earth's Eden vales 
Seared by sin and dark with death 
Or in spring's serenest gales 

Feel the winter's breath ? 

Question we, while human flowers 
Which have made our gardens dear 
Perish from our earthly bowers, 
Shall they re-appear? 

From our ears a song is fled, 
From our sight a form is gone. 
Lost and hidden with the dead 
Yet do they live on ? 

Yes, for though the flickering breath 
Flees away mid throes of pain, 
After life and after death 

Comes the life again. 

Tender treasures fade and fall. 
Blasted 'neath the wintry sky. 
God who is the life of all 

Will not let them die. 

While the unfailing fountain flows 
^ Still the Elysian fields shall bloom 
Vernal in serene repose, 

Freshness and perfume. 

426 



Rush ford and Rush ford People 

Planted on a deathless shore, 
Thriving in perennial bliss, 
Live they, reign they evermore, 

Whom we mourn and miss. 

Aye this miracle of love 
Wrought around us year by year 
Doth eternal problem prove. 

Makes the answer clear. 

Emblem of that coming day 

When the world renewed shall shine 

Garlanded by endless May, 

Hailed by hymns divine. 

With the Stacys, who were among the most prominent 
people of Rushford, my husband's acquaintance began with 
his first coming to Centerville, where the father of Dr. 
Orrin T. Stacy practised medicine many years and was 
highly esteemed by the people of the community. Mr. 
Lane had for him a warm personal friendship and at the 
time of his death, which occurred in Rushford, he gave 
a memorial address in the Centerville Presbyterian Church, 
which was very largely attended by the people who were 
thus granted an opportunity to testify to their appreciation 
of him as physician, friend and neighbor, to whom was 
given the place his worth had won him in the hearts of all. 
At the marriage of Miss Mary Stacy to Mr. Hubbard Mr. 
Lane officiated as he did at her funeral years after, from the 
house of her sister, Mrs. WilHam E. Kyes. Another daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Minerva Blodgett, was led by him to take a Chris- 
tian stand after very earnest research into questions which 

427 



Reminiscences 

had hitherto prevented her, but coming at last into full and 
joyful acceptance she publicly professed the name of Christ, 
and in one month thereafter she went to be with him. I 
have often heard Mr. Lane speak of her as one of the 
most brilliantly intellectual women he ever knew. Miss 
Ellen Stacy, who afterwards became Mrs. Brown, was a 
resident of Rushford when we came there and I have a 
pleasant remembrance of herself and Mrs. Kyes as mem- 
bers of my Bible class and in society. Dr. Orrin T. Stacy 
was widely known as a physician, popular and agreeable in 
all social relations and congenial as a neighbor and friend, 
Mrs. Stacy was a woman of education, accomplishments 
and literary culture with many graces of character. She had 
an unassumed thoughtfulness for others and a quick intui- 
tion of what would be pleasing or of interest to them. She 
was a good listener, receiving and retaining everything of 
value, while her criticisms were helpful and discriminating, 
and having a store to contribute, one would go far to find 
a more companionable associate or a choicer friend than 
Mrs. Stacy. 

Another whom Mr. Lane knew from his first coming 
to Allegany County was Mr. Orrin T. Higgins who was 
engaged in business in Centerville before he came to Rush- 
ford. Mr. Higgins was a prosperous merchant who by 
consummate business abihty had built up his own fortunes 
from his earliest youth. He was a man of pleasing ad- 
dress and refined manners and I remember him as unvary- 
ingly kind, unostentatious and sincere — a true friend to 
ourselves and one of Rushford's most respected and upright 
citizens. Of his son, Frank Wayland Higgins, Rushford 
has just reason to be proud as of one born there and spend- 
ing much of his early life in that place. I met him often in 
those days and even then he was a leading spirit in the 

428 



Rush ford and Rush ford People 

community. In presence he was very attractive, with all 
the bright enthusiasm and high purpose of his young man- 
hood, giving rich promise which was to be fulfilled in later 
years. I did not wonder at his becoming known in his 
native State and when his name became so prominent, with 
what interest I watched every event of his career. How 
proud I was of his success, how I rejoiced when he was 
elected Governor, and when the sickness came how I hoped 
against hope for his recovery, I was so sure that his life- 
work was not yet completed. But God sees beyond the 
boundary of our lower horizon and if the veil were removed 
from our vision we would see the far better, nobler place 
assigned him and the grander work he has to do. Of be- 
loved memory, we may hope to meet him in the better 
world and larger life upon which he has entered. When 
Mr. Lane was ill preceding his death I remember boxes of 
delicacies being sent from Rock City, from Mr. Higgins and 
Samuel Talcott who were associated in business at that 
place — gifts which I acknowledged in hurried notes, but 
which I never forgot though the donors may have done so. 
Miss Clara, as she then was, I was also pri^ ileged to know, 
and in the intimacies of Rushford society we were sharers 
in her graceful hospitality as the young mistress of her 
father's house. 

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Charles were for a series of years 
our nearest neighbors and they were intimate and dearly be- 
loved friends. With them it was neighborliness in the 
truest sense — the kindness which really cares one for the 
other under all the varying circumstance. We do not always 
remember our first impressions but in meeting these young 
people when they were new comers, I recall mine as wholly 
pleasurable. I seemed to expect friendship from them and 
hoped to be a gainer from knowing them, nor was I to be 

429 



Reminiscences 

disappointed. They were not strangers long to us or in 
Rushford society. Coming from Angelica, Mrs. Charles pre- 
sented a letter to the Presbyterian Church and from that 
time she was one of our most earnest and faithful workers 
in church and Sabbath School, and they were soon sur- 
rounded by a large circle of appreciative friends. Dr. 
Charles was a man of very engaging qualities. However 
much he enjoyed the pleasantries of life, the sub-stratum 
of his character was deep and serious; of fine moral fiber, 
he had the courage of his convictions. He was not afraid 
of plain speech when called for, or to take sides when neces- 
sary as was evidenced during our Civil War, that dread 
strife that rent our land, that laid its rupturing hand on 
many a home and left its awful scars on many a heart. 
What does not our nation owe to such men as Dr. Charles 
and his brothers who went out from Angelica to the bat- 
tle's front? No child's play that — it was grim death that 
faced them and they did not shrink. Their patriotism was as 
deeply ingrained as life itself. Very exalted, very noble 
was the love of country that inspired them. The record 
how brief — and yet how much it means of self-sacrifice, de- 
votion and surrender, as of men who gave all. Dr. Charles 
enlisted at Angelica, New York, on the seventh day of 
August, 1862, in Company G, First New York Dragoons, 
for three years. He was wounded at Cold Harbor May 31, 
1864, by a gun shot in the left ankle and was honorably 
discharged for disability at Rochester, New York, on the 
fifth of May, 1865. Robert and Richard A. of Washing- 
ton, D. C. were seriously wounded. John died from a gun 
shot wound received in the last battle his company was en- 
gaged in, and David from sunstroke during a battle in which 
he was engaged. Is not the record of these three brothers 
one to thrill the heart and bring the tears? Dr. Charles 

430 



Rush ford and Rush ford People 
died March i, 1891, at Riishford after an illness of eleven 
years. 

In his chosen profession his work was thus cut short 
but he was already widely and favorably known as a prac- 
titioner. What the future would have brought we cannot 
know or estimate. Dying in the prime of life after years 
of suffering, we can only faintly picture what might have 
been and think regretfully of a dispensation by which a 
career which promised much was unfinished. Those who 
knew Dr. Charles best, loved him most, and the saying 
comes to me, equally applicable to Dr. and Mrs. Charles, 
"If they loved him not they knew him not," and it was be- 
cause I knew them both so well that I loved them so much. 
Of Mrs. Charles, she was' not the mere flower of sunshine 
blossoming for its own pleasure but rather to be compared 
to those winter blossoms you may have seen pushing up in 
frost and snow superior to circumstances and bearing 
ever its message of comfort to others — she could be brave 
and she could help. L.ouie once said to me. "She always 
comes to us with a smile." There was something deep and 
rich in her nature and the comfort she brought us was be- 
yond estimate. She knew what we had lost but she had 
the smile and the word we needed, like the Master's "Be 
.of good cheer, I have overcome the world." She was with 
me in those days of sorrow which could not be wholly dark 
with such friends. The little poem I copy here seems not 
inappropriate for the friend of whom I have been writing. 
Its value lies in its simple sincerity: 

WINTER BLOSSOMS. 

While the flowers of summer are fragrant and fair 
With blushes of brightness surpassing my song 
I remember the winter so rugged and bare 

431 



Reminiscences 

When the shadows of trouble crept darkly along, 
The days and the nights when the storms were abroad 
And the winds swept the hills like the terror of God ; 
Mid blasts of destruction so weary and wild 
I could not believe that a blossom e'er smiled. 

Yet even mid the tempest a garland awoke 

Of loveliest beauty and excellence rare ; 

From the frost-hardened sod I was treading, it broke 

And spread out its leaves on the turbulent air. 

It lifted its bells to the snow-drifted day 

Arranging its clusters in charming array 

And sent up its sweets so unchangingly dear 

That I owned it the crown and the gem of the year. 

A garland of kindness, a garland of grace 
More fair than those flowers of the summer are fair, 
With constant endurance it blesses the place 
Where I hallow my holiest treasures with prayer. 
Be it summer and sunshine or winter and shade, 
A wreath has been woven that never will fade. 
With incense immortal, at morning and even 
It gladdens the heart like a garland of heaven. 

Of Louis Bryant Lane I will briefly say he was 
with us during our entire Rushford life, having the same 
interests as his father and mother and a student both in the 
school and at home. Other friends of whom I have many 
kindnesses to remember were Mrs. Galpin, Mrs. Stella 
Blanchard, Mrs. Cynthia Woodworth and Mrs. Mary 
Thomas. Of how many I have written and still they come. 
They throng the halls of memory and knock softly at the 
door of the heart and they are asking, "Have you forgotten 

432 



Recollections 

me?" and I reply, "No, I have forgotten none." But time 
presses and weariness urges me to drop the pen. And so. 
Rushford, and dear people of Rushford, good-bye— good- 
bye. But partings are not forever and some day I shall 
see you all again. 

For love outlasts the years, 

Outlasts our flowing tears, 
Smiles when we weep above the silent grave. 

When life's most sacred trust 

Doth crumble into dust 
She builds anew, she doth confirm and save. 

For you who come today, 

Flowers of a long lost May 
Wearing so well the semblance of the past. 

Shall prove me yet again. 

Where life not death shall reign, 
In perfect real truth how love doth last. 

For you, beloved and dear. 

Haply to memory near. 
And speaking soul to soul with olden art, 

In just a little while 

We shall clasp hands and smile 
And glance to glance shall answer heart to heart. 

RECOLLECTIONS 
O. L. Elliott 

MY earliest recollections of Rushford are quite vague, 
but two items come into somewhat sharp relief: the 
woolen mill at Gordonville where my folks made annual 
purchases of carded wool and cloth, and the gristmill at 
East Rushford where, on rare occasions, I accompanied 

433 

28 



Reminiscences 

my father with his load of wheat and oats and, in some 
mysterious and wonderful fashion, saw them converted 
into flour and feed. Rushford proper looms up a little 
later, a great and busy mart of trade, with bewildering 
variety and succession of shops all the way along Main 
Street from the Tarbell House to the Globe Hotel. Going 
to Rushford to trade was a distinct event and filled with all 
the sensations which the modern dweller in country places 
experiences in his not less natural and not less frequent 
expeditions to cities like Rochester and Buffalo. The O. T. 
Higgins store at the foot of Main Street (later A. M. Tay- 
lor's), with Grover Pratt as salesman, was likely to be the 
first and main objective. On the steps of this store one could 
listen to the harangues of Frank Higgins with his marked 
gift of "gab," and whose boyish opinions, particularly on 
matters political, were always pronounced. Quite as regu- 
larly visited were Howser's blacksmith shop, Stacy's drug- 
and-many-other-kinds-of-store, and W. E. Kyes' dry goods 
store. Of course Galpin's furniture shop. Mason's grocery, 
Bush's, White and Elmer's and the others, were not forgot- 
ten. Going to town was an all day affair, and the idea of 
doing one's business promptly and returning home forth- 
with did not greatly prevail; or rather, one's business was 
much wider than mere trading and included due allowance 
of time for social amenities and for basking in the metro- 
politan sunshine. 

In the fall of 1875 I came to be in small measure a part 
of the Rushford community. For five days in the week I 
"boarded myself" in Mrs. Hall's house by the creek, on 
Lower Street, and attended the Union Free School of which 
W. W. Bean was principal. Five terms in all, scattered 
over as many years, I claimed Rushford as my abode, the 
last three living with Mr. and Mrs. Gratton on the Gordon- 

434 



Recollections 

ville road. My life in Rushford was thus centered about the 
old Academy. That life was unadulterated joy. With 
more than a country lad's share of reticence and unsophis- 
tication, there went a tolerably wide outlook upon public 
affairs which gave a certain confidence and poise even if it 
did build more than one fool's paradise of ignorance and 
conceit. There was not much social Hfe of a formal sort, 
and I do not remember that athletics cut any figure what- 
ever. But they were the opening days in young lives, the 
days of purple mist, and my companions of the Table 
Round came so to be a part forever of the texture of my 
life. I will not try to call the full roll; but if I name Eddy 
Gilbert, Will Benson, Will Benjamin, Frank White ("Phran- 
tic" of the press), Obed and Stephen Wilmot, Homer and 
date Tarbell, Myron Fisher, "Dr." Ryder, Kate Hardy, 
Verna Gordon, Myrtie Nye, Frona Gilbert, Anna Kendall, 
Kate and May Lundrigan, Jennie Laning, Flora Metcalf, 
and Helen White, it will call to mind the others in the long 
list. 

Professor Bean was distinctly a schoolmaster of the 
old school ; but a finer representative that old school need 
never have asked. It was under him that I wound up finally 
those grammar school subjects which had been going 'round 
and 'round in the district school time out of mind. Ex- 
aminations were the crowning delight of all the school rou- 
tine, and I remember how, when all the Regents' (there 
were only a few subjects then) had been passed at that first 
bout, succeeding Regents' examinations were a mournful 
period because they could not be taken over again. We all 
likewise took the teachers' examinations, and in the evening 
trooped up to the Globe Hotel to find out from Commis- 
sioner Frank Smith whether we had "passed." If we had, 
and then owning up our age found we were ineligible for 

435 



Reminiscences 

that Third Grade Certificate, we knew at least that we 
should have the fun of trying examinations another time. I 
seem to notice in these days a decided change of attitude 
toward examinations ; and I suspect it is partly, at least, 
because the examinations have changed. Certainly the 
hardest question the Commissioner could put up to us in 
grammar, for example, was to analyze and parse that but 
half understood quotation from "Macbeth," "If it were done 
when 't is done, then 't were well it were done quickly." 

Professor Diamond was first of the line of modern 
schoolmasters in Rush ford. I imagine reorganization was 
not an easy task and that it did not proceed far at that time ; 
but I remember my one term under his principalship as 
without a flaw. To Professor Spooner, under whom my 
next two terms fell, I am most indebted. He, more com- 
pletely than any other teacher I have ever had, filled out 
my ideal of the high school principal. Under him such 
vague notions as I may have cherished about further study 
were crystallized and my mind turned definitely toward a 
college education. Under him I studied the English and 
higher mathematics, the little Latin and less Greek, which 
served to meet the modest entrance requirements of Cor- 
nell. Van Norman, my last principal, stands out less dis- 
tinctly in my memory, I suppose because there was more 
routine and less awakening at that particular stage of ex- 
istence. 

But no excursion through the chambers of memory 
could omit an ofifering at the shrine of Polyhymnia. It was 
Professor Spooner and Miss White, was it not? who were 
responsible for the starting of the Polyhymnian. However 
that may be, they it was who presided over its destinies 
and guided it safely through the dangers which might easily 
have been its undoing. What faithful devotion went into 

436 



Retrospection 

it, and how much of serious development it stood for to its 
devoted membership ! If we read Shakespeare perhaps too 
seriously and from distressingly small print, we had the 
necessary relief in such parts of our program as the famous 
murder trial when poor "Dr." Ryder was so badly tangled 
among his poisons by the merciless cross-examination of 
Counselor Gilbert. And outside of Polyhymnian what de- 
votion we put into Seth Greenback, Louva the Pauper, and 
other dramas of its class. 

That Rush ford hasn't changed much in its outward 
aspects, hasn't increased in population, hasn't taken on a 
citified air, hasn't become a railroad center or a summer re- 
sort, may sometimes seem vexatious to its inhabitants; but 
it is altogether a comfort to those of us who have wandered 
far and who can hope to get back only at long intervals. 
The cemetery, the Academy, the four churches, the two 
taverns, the livery stable, the residences, and particularly 
the straggling street to Gordonville, the business places with 
only such reconstruction as fire and flood make necessary — 
this is the way we like to think of it. We cannot put the 
youths and maidens of thirty years ago into school and 
Polyhymnian again, but as fathers, mothers, and rulers they 
seem more really our fellow voyagers and friends, in the old 
familiar setting and in the routine that has not succumbed 
to the rush and fury of other regions of twentieth-century 
America. 

RETROSPECTION 
Clara Bristol Tiffany 

WHETHER we realize it or not — whether we will it 
or not — we are building, day by day, our own habita- 
tion, for time and for eternity. The good acts of our todays 
and yesterdays are the solid blocks of that building ; the 

437 



Reminiscences 

wrong deeds form the blocks that are only sawdust and will 
vanish away, leaving those empty, irregular spaces that spoil 
the beauty and completeness of the finished structure. The 
pleasures of Hfe, — if real fun, that is "fun in anticipation, 
fun in realization, fun in retrospection," — make the most 
beautiful decorations for the rooms of our abiding place. 

Methinks, in this busy, rushing world, it is good to stop 
and go back, hand in hand with memory, and visit the rooms 
long since closed that we may be refreshed and encouraged 
to build well today. Let us enter the library first and, though 
we wander through the soft glow of the firelight, we can 
clearly distinguish most beautiful pictures. As we look at 
one we realize that we have left behind the narrow, stifling 
town, for before us we see vast reaches of prairie whose 
desolation is accentuated by the wandering coyote and the 
lonely miner's cabin. Apparently from the sky itself rise 
vast mountains — those mighty sentinel towers of the far 
western country, that imagination easily peopled with giant 
watchmen, forbidding the unhallowed intrusion of civilized 
man. Another picture shows us the magnificent western 
sun surrounding the calm face of old Hood for a moment in 
a golden halo and then dropping a mantle of roseate hue 
upon the broad shoulders ; or glorifying hoaryheaded Shasta, 
on every side, revealed to us in following the curves of the 
Southern Pacific that loops and twines about the feet of 
the noble mountain as if it loved to linger there to do it 
homage. Such scenes as these lift us above the petty cares 
and trials of our small lives and bring us face to face with 
the Infinite, Unchangeable, Omnipotent, and we ask, "What 
is man. that thou art mindful of him," or our small lives 
that thou carest for them? 

Another picture shows us the depths of the ocean. 
We see tall trees of kelp waving so gently in the waters, 

438 



Retrospection 

the beautiful sponges clinging so closely to the rocks, the 
fern moss reaching out tiny hands, the coral moss with its 
exquisite lavender tints, the sensitive sea anemone with 
their mingling shades of rich browns and greens, with the 
occasional gleam of the rainbow tinted abalone shells cling- 
ing to the rocks, and the deep blue and rich orange, of gold 
fish, gliding about like paradise birds among flowers — all 
combine to make a picture too beautiful for description. 
Verily these are the "wonders of the deep" that give us a 
faint conception not only of the omniscience but of the ten- 
der love of the Creator who saw that all that he had made 
was good. 

Looking at another picture we see the great audience 
and feel again the inspiration that comes from holding and 
swaying them and having our convictions reproduced and 
taken from state to state. And the quaint little wonder 
repeats itself, if we shall ever wake and find ourselves fa- 
mous, but memory, our faithful companion reassures us. 
No such misfortune has befallen. 

We would love to linger here but we must pass on to 
another room. Here are few pictures, but experiences carved 
deep upon the walls. They represent people continually com- 
ing and going. But what is their mission? Ah yes, we rec- 
ognize it. It is only the reception room of the busy pastor's 
wife. The first record shows a committee to wait upon 
her to see if she will join the choir and sing alto. And will 
she play the organ ^ She can do neither and they retire 
with anxious faces. They do need an alto singer so badly 
and they are afraid she isn't going to be much help. Any- 
how, they aren't used to having a pastor's wife and they are 
afraid they can't find enough for her to do. The next com- 
mittee want her to accept the presidency of the new "Aid 
Society." Well, at least she will conduct the devotional, 

439 



Reminiscences 
give the address of welcome and one number on the pro- 
gram for the pubHc meeting soon to be held. And these 
want a paper for the next W. C. T. U. Institute and these 
a chalk talk for the Sunday School convention and the next 
a speech for the C. E. convention. The next group have 
evidently come to report the unpleasant things said about 
the pastor, and here are others passing by with haughty 
looks because last Sabbath's sermon was too personal. Here 
is a good sister come to remind her that Mrs. B. is offended 
because she hasn't called. Mrs. B. lives several miles away 
and has her own carriage. The pastor's wife has a little baby 
in arms and no carriage — and why should she make the 
first call upon a lady of leisure anyway? But what is this? 
Here are people entering her home and attempting to re- 
arrange its furnishings, and they criticize her clothing and 
even ask its price. And here comes my lady of "fairs, fes- 
tivals and follies," to ask if she will paint a picture for the 
bazar and make a cake for the next supper. But the pro- 
cession changes, at length, and here comes a group of 
thoughtful souls laden with good gifts to lighten the bur- 
dens of the overburdened pastor's wife. Skillful fingers find 
that pile of unfinished sewing, and the little garments grow 
together as if by magic. There are sweet notes, — yes, real 
bank notes and birthday and Christmas gifts to lighten the 
way. 

There is a sad dark corner where for five long months 
the angel that men call Death hovers over the cradle of her 
baby boy and the agonized mother weeps and prays, almost 
alone, while he slowly, reluctantly, takes his leave. But 
it is not all in vain, for here are souls in sickness, and be- 
reavement, and sorrow for sin and she is permitted to lead 
them to the Comforter and Savior. Surely in this room 
are recorded strange and varied experiences. 

440 



Retrospection 

Passing on we find ourselves in what might be a con- 
servatory full of beautiful flowers. No, they are children's 
faces. There never were better children and here is the 
record of our happy school-ma'am days. We would like to 
stop and ask, "Where did you go, my little man?" and "Has 
the world been kind to you, little maid?" but not until the 
final examination will each life story be told. 

And now we come to a room that is draped in black 
and orange, shall we say? It is the sunshine and shadow 
of Lima school days. Here are recorded hard experiences, 
and some happy, but no care- free, days. Here we find the 
faces of life-long, loyal friends. Just beyond is a sunny 
little parlor of the first happy school days at Pike. 

We have wandered on until we have come upon the 
large playroom of childhood days at Rush ford. The walls 
are covered with pictures. Here are a little boy and girl 
coasting. The little boy draws the sled up the hill and 
steers it down. Oh what fun they have! Yes, we would 
recognize them, even if we did not see, back in a corner, 
almost hidden by cobwebs, the couplet scrawled in awkward, 
childish hand, 

"First the watch and then the crystal, 
Lucian Benjamin and Clara Bristol." 

And here are hosts of pictures of sleigh ride parties, with 
always the same little couple "handling the ribbons." Some- 
times few and sometimes many others completed the "load." 
Often there were Harry Wagoner and Charlie, the brother, 
and Ora Gates and the fun loving sister, Adelaide, for 
whom the earthly school is out. 

"For the dear girl now stands 

Before the one great Master 

In the house not made with hands." 

441 



Reminiscences 

Another gay picture was made by E. O. Butterfield's 
singing school and the sleigh-ride parties that followed him 
to nearby towns, although the dearest music to them was 

"How swift we go o'er the fleecy snow 
When hoofs keep time to music's chime, 
As merrily on we go." 

Perhaps the j oiliest crowd that ever sent "sleigh bells laugh- 
ing out on the night air" went down to Rawson on that 
memorable winter night, to Rob. Thompson's surprise party, 
singing, singing, all the way down ; singing to the music 
of jingling bells all the way back and startling the white- 
capped farmer's wives from their cosy beds. There were 
those wonderful foot races down Buffalo Street with Mag. 
Lundrigan, in which the smallest girl often proved the win- 
ner, in spite of serious handicap in length of runners. There 
were the long tramps in the sweet-scented woods in spring- 
time, searching for flowers and wintergreens. There was our 
little society in which the debates were often informal and 
not on literary subjects, and our May party and "queen o' 
the May." We come now to a wood scene. I see a great 
kettle of boiling syrup over an open fire in the snow-covered 
woods. That waxed sugar on the snow ! I can taste it yet ! 
Yes, and also good Mrs. Benjamin's pickles, when we had 
eaten sweet, 'till we could eat no more. 

However all the bright pictures were not outside, many 
were inside the schoolroom. Memory brings again those 
baseball spelling matches where words instead of balls were 
pitched and caught, and faithfully recalls our one ignominious 
defeat, with poor little Everett Young as captain. Oh the 
fun, at our expense, of Captain Gene Benson on the other 
side, supported by every good speller in school! And the 
parsing matches were almost equally exciting. Then there 

442 



Retrospection 

was that history class where we strove to see who could 
commit the text of old Ridpath most accurately and rattle 
it off most fluently ( I can repeat some of those paragraphs 
yet). And what fun it was to see who could stand up long- 
est in naming dates from 986 to the end of the Rebellion. 
To me the crowning picture of all is the fine, intellectual 
face of the presiding genius of that school room, Helen J. 
White, a true educator. She, by kindness and judicious 
encouragement, led out our struggling powers and developed 
our hidden talents. She was the guide of timid feet, the 
sympathetic friend at the critical time, the inspiration of 
all our after life. To her we owe the best of all we have 
ever hoped to attain. 

Ah those Rushford school days! 

Dear old golden rule days, 

Reading and writing and courteous ways, 

Taught to the tune of love and praise. 

As we take a final look at these pictures of our own 
painting we recognize their imperfections and their crude- 
ness. Yet the pleasant scenes here represented have en- 
couraged us to take up our brush again and paint new pic- 
tures. However imperfect these may be when our last stroke 
is added, if we have given our best, when retouched by the 
Master's hand, they will reveal a Httle of his beauty and 
sublimity. As we examine the blocks of our building, we 
find so few that are strong and accurate. But we cannot 
live again past days, and useless regrets will paralyze our 
hands for today's building. With grateful hearts we will 

"Build today, then, strong and sure. 
With a firm and ample base, 
And ascending and secure, 
Shall tomorrow find its place." 

443 



R 



Reminiscences 

A PICTURE 

Florence Octavia Hunger 

(May 7, 1891.) 

USHFORD with her hills and valleys, her brooks and 
bridges with their overhanging willows, are fresh in 
mind. Let me draw a picture of the past. I look out of the 
parsonage* window. In front of a certain boot and shoe 
store, which is run by one of Rushford's Brooks, are gath- 
ered a group of the city fathers discussing the affairs of 
nation, with the locals which are agitating the village thrown 
in for spice. Then come along the clerical men. Were 
there ever three such tall, thin dominies in one little parish 
before or since? — the learned Cone, the artist Grames and 
Munger the Baptist. Who is this that is walking so furi- 
ously? It is like the walking of one of the sons of the 
medical art — he of the deepf name; and that more delib- 
erate mender of illsj I see too, he is going to give nature a 
chance to apply her healing arts. Here are a troop of chil- 
dren, just from school; they rush to Mrs. Woodworth's 
tempting windows to discuss her beautiful display of dolls, 
choice china, artistic bits of fancywork, ribbons, plumes, 
flowers, bric-a-brac — all in rich profusion. I notice those 
very intellectual people passing along with a studious, pre- 
occupied air, as if the fate of our great Republic rested 
with them ; they seem to be saying, 

"Sail on, O Union strong and great! 

!i: * >|: * * * * * * * * 

Our hopes, our hearts, our prayers, our tears 
Are all with thee — are all with thee." 

*The parsonasje was then just west of the Baptist Church. 
tDr. W. F. Wells. 
JDr. O. T. Stacy. 

444 



Moriturus Ave! 

It is the evening of the Historical Society and these are 
its devotees, "We'll take a cup o' kindness yet" for the 
pleasant hours spent with the Historical Society and fo» 
Saturday evening, the 22nd of February, 1890. 

And now I see other faces, clasp again the friendly 
hand, the sweet church bell rings, God's people are going 
into his temple to worship, the forms of those I loved, 
whose friendship I still cherish enter with me into His 
temple, 

"And when I ask with throbs of pain. 
Ah! when shall we all meet again?' 
As in the days long since gone by, 
The ancient timepiece makes reply, 

'Forever — never ! 

Never — forever !' " 



MORITURUS AVE! 
G. W. F. Buck 

FROM afar to my mountain dwelling 
Come letters my heart that thrill. 
Of gentle speech they are telling 
By friends who remember me still, 
Through the century's half, since together 
We carolled youth's glad refrain, 
Through all that changeful weather, 
Its sunshine, its cold, fierce rain. 

Love me, love me a little blindly, 

Dear ones, who have loved me so long, 

If ye think of me too kindly, 

445 



Reminiscences 

God will say, " 'Tis no terrible wrong," 
Of each other the worth, not weakness, 
We please Him best, to learn. 
Very sad must be the bleakness 
Of souls that are swift to spurn. 

With tenderness, "How faring?" 
Friends mine, ye would ask, I know; 
How sure we were once of sharing, 
Each day's dehght and woe! 

Very old, a trifle weary. 

Not eager to go, or to stay, 

vSeem never these calm years dreary, 

As above me they roll away. 

We agree — Life and I — much better 

Since 'tis plain that soon we must part, 

Beats now against his fetter. 

Not so recklessly, quite my heart. 

Shine the "Spheres Seven," more brightly 
These nights, than they shone in the past? 
They're bending down to me slightly. 
That my route may seem less vast. 

I must tell you the supreme blessing, 
That has been to my ownership brought, 
'Tis the home of my possessing. 
None finer by gold can be bought. 
Building slowly, we braced it securely. 
Shrewd builders, my Soul and I ! 
For this mansion, we know full surely, 
We'll inhabit it after we die. 

446 



Moriturus Ave ! 

Not a stick or a stone that can perish 
Allowed we, from basement to peak, 
"We will use what we always can cherish," 
Thus each to the other would speak. 

This abode, I fancy, is quaintest, 

That whirls round with our whirligig-ball 

"Heart's home"— not a sign of it, faintest. 

Would you notice if coming to call. 

The framework, I term it so, merely 

Vista, cleft through my vanishing days; 

And the reason I dwell there so cheerly. 

Is that all the broad space is ablaze, 

With memories ; here, of beauty and splendor, 

I sighed for, or tried for, or shared ; 

And there of a pathos so tender, 

Fit to chant it not yet born the bard. 

Faults, follies, all those are excluded; 
Not mine only ; especially those 
That into my being intruded. 
Friends thoughtless, or too thoughtful foes. 
For why should we care to remember 
The darkness, the doubt and the doom, 
When for every dull December, 
There are months, so many, of bloom. 

Oh, the glow, Oh, the gleam of my treasures, 

As I move through my magical hall ; 

But a scene of the Northland o'er-measures, 

Quite o'er-measures the others all, 

Not of sea, or of mountain the glory, 

Mid the uplands, a valley fair, 

447 



Reminiscences 
Too meek -for song or for story, 
Softly nestles a hamlet there. 

Oh, the dear, dear forms that wandered 
Long ago, down that quiet street; 
Oh, the mad, mad love we squandered. 
That no answering love would meet ! 

I must dream, must dream no longer, 
Regrets long dead arise ; 
Forgive, that I am not stronger. 
That my world is a wild surmise ; 
That I need not your Rush ford, the real, 
Its autos and trains rushing through. 
That I yearn for a Rushford ideal, 
Knowing well it has faded from view. 

Ye longed for, here they sever 
Us harshly, time and space. 
But we learn of a fair Forever 
Where friendship will find more grace. 

Moriturus Ave ! saying, 
I salute thee, O Rushford, the new. 
And while Death still deigns, delaying. 
Receive this fond adieu. 



448 



A 



XII I 

GREAT CELEBRATIONS 

SEMI-CENTENNIAL. 1859. 

H. J. W. G. 

RRANGEMENTS for the Semi-Centennial were made 
by the following: President, A. J. Lyon ; Vice-Presi- 
dents, I. S. White, 2. A. Rose, 3. Wm. L. Gary, 4. E. Perry, 
5. L. Benjamin; Committee on Arrangements, i. J. G. Os- 
borne, 2. E. P. Lyon, 3. S. Hardy, 4. J. Bell, 5. L. C. Kim- 
ball, 6. W. White, 7. S. Root, 8. B. T. Hapgood, 9. W. 
Young, 10. I. Lathrop, 11. J. T. Wier, 12. J. Holmes, 13. A. 
K. Allen, 14. J. Griffin ; Corresponding Secretary, S. White. 

The last days of December, 1858, men were going to 
town to buy groceries, women were baking and there was 
one topic of conversation, the Semi-Centennial. Long, 
rude tables were being improvised and dishes from the 
stores were being carried to the basement of the Academy, 
then the Town Hall. Saturday, January i, 1859. the fiftieth 
anniversary to the very day of the settlement of the town 
of Rushford, was cool and pleasant. The Academy, where 
dinner was served from noon until night, was the center of 
attraction. It is said that three hundred sat down to the 
first tables. And such tables! They were loaded with 
roast turkey (Uncle John Worthington furnished one), 
chicken pie, beef and pork, baked beans, potatoes and tur- 
nips cooked on the spot, rice puddings, twisted doughnuts, 
apple butter, pies, cakes and what not? Some were made 
sick. Do you wonder at it? They said it was the chicken 
pie. 

449 




Mr. and Mrs. Abraham J. Lyon 
Judge Lyon was president of the Semi-Centennial 



Semi-Centennial 

Blooming damsels of sixteen, Lucy Gordon*, Anna 
Wierf and Amelia Brooks,$ assisted by George Swift and 
Henry Hyde, were among the waiters. There was strife 
among them to see which should have the finest table. 
Other waiters were Sophia Benjamin, Minerva Simpson, 
Mrs. Thomas White and Mrs. Ellen White Hubbell. The 
surplus of the feast was given to the poor. 

In the chapel of the Academy there was a feast of 
reason and a flow of soul. Remarks were made by A. J. 
Lyon, the President. Uncle Tom Pratt was the orator of 
the day. He, as well as many of his listeners, knew whereof 
he spoke. N5body went to sleep that day as he rehearsed 
the privations and experiences of the early times. 
"In the spring," said he, "when the last piece of 
pork dropped into the barrel, it seemed to say, 'Hark from 
the tombs a doleful sound.' " But enthusiasm rose to its 
height when he said that they did not forget the scriptural 
injunction to 'multiply and replenish the earth.' A thrill 
must have gone through the audience when he said, "Ebe- 
nezer Pratt Lyon and Jedediah Buckingham Gordon, stand 
up on the stove there and let the people see what kind of 
boys were rocked in sap troughs." 

When Dr. Dickinson was called on to give the history 
of the town he said that what he had to say seemed tame 
after listening to such a speech. We all regret the loss of 
his excellent historical narrative as it would be of great 
value today. Fortunately a part of the paper given by 
Samuel White has been preserved. The early settlers on 
the platform were in high glee, one after another jumping 
up to tell of his hardships in the new country, and of priva- 

*Mrs. George Gant. 

fMrs. Thomas of Lansing, Iowa. 

$Mrs. Dwight Atkins of Nunda. 

451 



Great Celebrations 

tions while waiting for vegetables to grow and cows to be- 
come fresh. Aunt Nancy Woods told her experiences in 
her jolly, good way. There was an exhibition of relics of 
pioneer days, and a woman dressed in the costume of fifty 
years before, created much merriment. The attendance was 
so large that though the chapel was packed many could not 
get in. The stage was decorated, not with palms and cut 
flowers, but with links of sausage and strings of dried ap- 
ples and pumpkins cut in circles and hung on pegs as if to 
dry. When inspiring strains of martial music were heard, 
one of the pioneers gave vent to his feelings by dancing on 
the Academy walk. A young girl who saw him was much 
shocked to think that he, a Methodist, should dance. What 
a happy day it must have been ! A number who celebrated 
that day are now celebrating the Hundredth Anniversary. 
Who that are here today will be present when the third half 
century has rolled around? 

A portion of the address given by Samuel White at 
the Semi-Centennial : 

In i8i6 there were only two frame buildings in town. 
Mr. Freeman, one of the first settlers, had a frame addition 
to his log house, and on the farm where Mr. IMorrow now 
lives there was a frame barn, built by Esq. Gary in 1814. 
The oldest man in town is Mr. Luther Woodworth, his age 
is eighty-eight. The oldest woman is Mary Williston at 
the advanced age of ninety-three. She is the only Revolu- 
tionary pensioner in this vicinity. * * * The number 
of men who have died in Rushford within forty years, to 
say nothing of women and children, is not far from one 
hundred and thirty, and the number of men now living who 
settled in Rushford before the year 1817, is only eighteen. 
* * * The first match made in Rushford was on the south 
side of the creek ; the parties were Wm. Rawson and Luany 

452 



7i 



H 

O 



r-r 

2 '^ 



3 -T- 

3 





Great Celebrations 

Swift;* I cannot tell the precise time, but probably 1811. 
* * * Mr. Wm. Gordon's first wife, a daughter of Esq. 
Gary, was the first person that died in town. A young 
man by the name of Hubbard was the second, and Mr. War- 
ren,! who was drowned, was the third. In 1816 the only 
grave near the center of the town was Mr. Warren's. Elder 
Bannister, a Methodist minister from Vermont, came with 
his family to Rushford. He was a very good sort of a man, 
rather eccentric, full of fun for a preacher, and always 
ready to receive or crack a joke. Soon after the reforma- 
tion (a revival of which he was probably the cause), he 
happened to go to Burrow's tavern in Castile. There he 
found a brother Methodist, with whom he commenced a 
conversation in relation to the revival in Rushford. A wag 
who was present wanted to know how the Lord could find 
the way to Rushford through the woods without a pilot? 
"Why," said the Elder, "he followed the marked trees, I 
suppose." Some time after this the old Elder was praying 
for the people of Rushford. There was in the place a 
very wicked sort of a chap, Wm. Burns, Jr. The old Elder 
commenced a prayer in his behalf, and said, "Oh Lord, con- 
vert Wm. Burns; we don't mean old Mr. Burns, but Wm. 
Burns, Jr." He meant to lay it down so the Lord could 
understand it. At another time when Elder Bannister was 
interceding and praying for others, he used this expression, 
"Oh, Lord, convert the whole world; oh! and John Gordon, 
too!" When I told you about the homespun dresses of 
the ladies, I should have said something about the patches 
that ornamented the apparel of the men. Patches were in 
fashion, and it was not considered a crime or a disgrace to 

*Having lost the original paper, I took this name from a copy ; 
perhaps, the name is Lurany, since Charles Swift had a daughter by 
that name. — H. J. W. G. 

tHe was the miller who was drowned while repairing his dam. 

454 



A Leaf From ]\Iy Journal 

wear them. They were probably as fashionable at the time 
we speak of as the best of broadcloth garments are at this 
day. You young people will be surprised when I tell you 
that a patch on a certain pair of pantaloons made Wm. L. 
Marcy governor of New York. January i, 1817, the dwell- 
ing of Samson Hardy was burned to ashes. It was in the 
morning. By twelve o'clock (noon), the neighbors had as- 
sembled with axes and teams, and before night they hauled 
enough logs to rebuild the house. About this time Judge 
McCall came and advised them not to build a log house, but 
to put up a plank house, and offered to saw the lumber 
gratis. The next day a sufficient quantity of logs was at 
AlcCall's mill, and in a few days Mr. Hardy's family were 
comfortably quartered in their new house. H ever there 
was a time when every man loved his neighbor as himself, 
it was when the country was new. They were full of love 
and good will, and sometimes full of whiskey. H a man 
had a log house to raise, everyone would make the business 
his own and attend to it faithfully, until it was made com- 
fortable and convenient. 



A LEAF FROM MY JOURNAL 
Cynthia Woodworth 

ALL hail! thou joy inspiring morn: all hail! 
Auspicious day ; whose heralding has been 
The deep wild din of rattling porcelain. 
The quick, fierce clash of cutlery and tin, 
The very mention of whose approach 

Note.— January ist, 1859, was celebrated at Rushford as being 
the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement thereof. Speeches, martial 
music and feasting were the order of the day. 

455 



Great Celebrations 

Has proved acknowledged signal to all 
Turkeys and fat hens, to lay their heads 
Upon the block, nor take them up again. 
And e'en the stubborn, contra swine, with grunt 
Defiant, yielded his life at last, for 
A "Thank Offering" and all in vain essayed 
"To save his bacon." Savors, smelling sweet, 
Arose from household altars (vulgarly called 
Ovens), until our neighbors far and near, 
Exultantly have snuffed the breeze of thy 
Forthcoming — and join with us to bid thee 
Hail ! most welcome day of kindly cheer, — 
Assembled now; that is to say, we're packed, 
And jammed, and crammed in just no space at all, 
Regardless all of crinoline or hoops 
(That everybody knows will break) ; we list. 
With mouth agape and ears unstopped, to all 
The incidents, the accidents they please 
To tell. And sure this is a joyous time. 
The heightened radiance of all eyes betray 
The gathering tear ; but smiles dispel the 
Dimming mist, and hearty, deafening cheers 
Succeed for "Auld Lang Syne." And well I know 
All hearts are young and kindlier grown, for 
This day's festive cheer. And now, in place of 
Highest honor, I behold the gray-haired 
Pioneer, whose glittering axe, and arms' 
Young strength, the mighty forest have subdued. 
And who has lived to see his chosen home 
The pride and glory of his sons. And here 
Are men of middle age, whose opening gaze 
Upon their "Mother Earth," took in her deep 
Dark wilds, her "vastly mountain steeps," whose 

456 



A Leaf From Al}^ journal 

Evening lullaby, the hoarse wild wolves took 
Leave to join, but who have found among old 
Allegany's stumps and steeps, space to grow 
Stately and tall, and who have never blessed 
Another clime or soil, with the dear name 
Of home. The young I see, to whom all things 
Seem as they were from the beginning, 
And on whose wondering ear the story 
Of their grandsires' sutTering toil, falls like 
Some fairy tale, that scarce may be believed. 
And toddling babes are here, who know not that 
They live at all, but pule and whine with all 
Sang froid, who deem the occasion quite 
Befit to prove that infant lungs are not 
Degenerate, nor infant appetites appeased 
With speeches fine, or sight of sausage of 
Whatever length or weight. In short, they are 
The only things (excuse me mothers if 

I call them things, it best doth suit the 
Measure of my verse), as I have said, 
They are the only things the touch of time 
Or chance has left unchanged, and all admit 
•They are the most perfect counterparts of 
Babies fifty years ago — 

But hark ! the welcome sound, "to dinner now," 
Befogs me lirain. Report me absent. Muse, 

— From The Weekly News Letter. 
Rushford, N. Y., Saturday, Feb. 5, 1859. 



457 



Great Celebrations 
RUSHFORD CENTENNIAL AND HOME COMING 

WEEK 

COMMITTEES appointed for One Hundredth Anniver- 
sary and Home Coming Week : 
Executive Committee — W. W. Bush, J. G. Benjamin, 
L. J. Thomas, R. B. Laning, O. T. Wilmot. 

General Committee, one from each school district : 

I.— E. C. Gilbert and H. B. Ackerly. 
2.— R. M. Wilmarth. 
3.— D. W. Gilbert. 
4.— S. B. Williams. 
5.-J. D. Hill. 
6.— B. F. Babbitt. 
7. — Frank Hogg. 
8.— Newell McCall. 
9. — Grant Smith. 
10. — Albert Warren. 
1 1 . — Roy Taylor. 
12. — Dean Gordon. 
13. — C. C. Proctor. 
14. — Charles Moon. 
Committee for Farmers' Day — Dean Gordon, Roy Tay- 
lor, O. T. Wilmot, S. E. Kilmer. 

Historical Committee — Mrs. Helen Gilbert. 
Committee on Program for Historical Day — Mrs. Helen 
Gilbert, W. W. Bush, Jas. G. Benjamin. 

Committee on School Day — Miss Ellen Lyman, Mrs. 

Catherine Tarbell, ]\Iiss Katherine Baldwin, Greydon Davis. 

Committee on Church Day — Miss Ellen Gordon, M. E. 

Church; Mrs. S. E. Taylor, Baptist Church; Mrs. D. S. 

Damon ; and Millie Metcalf, Free Methodist Church. 



District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 


District 


No. 



458 



Centennial and Home Coming Week 

Committee on G. A. R. Da> — A. L. Litchard, John R. 
Heald, W. W. Bush. 

\'illage Improvement Committee — The Executive Com- 
mittee. 

Committee on Streets and Walks — B. D. Kyes, District 
No. 4; Thomas Atwell, District No. 6; W. S. Mulliken, Dis- 
trict No. 6>4 ; Claud Nye, District No. 12; Will Cooper, 
District No. 32. 

Committee on IMusic — W. W. Thomas, W. F. Benja- 
min, A. J. Lyon. 

Committee on Amusements — Wm. W. Bush, L. E. 
Hardy, John Benjamin. 

Auditing Committee — L. E. Hardy, W. H. Thomas, 
Charles Weaver. 

Committee on Refreshments — W. H. Thomas, F. G. 
Gordon, E. C. Gilbert. 

Committee to see to collecting old papers, magazines, 
books, etc., and to sell same and hand proceeds to the 
Treasurer — L. J. Thomas, John Benjamin. 

Committee to look after old relics and to take care of 
them and to appoint or select assistants as he may need — 
Frank Board. 

Old Home Week opened Sunday with services at the 
M. E. church. Rev. H. C. Woods preaching a splendid 
sermon to a large congregation. On account of the re- 
pairs on the Baptist Church their services were held at 
Academy Hall where Rev. E. O. Taylor preached a fine 
sermon. 

Services were also held at the F. M. Church in the 
morning when a history of the church was read. In the 
evening Rev. H. C Woods preached a fine sermon. 

459 



Great Celebrations 

The afternoon exercises at Academy Hall, which were 
union services, were largely attended, the hall being crowd- 
ed. After a short song service. Rev. T. P. Poate conducted 
the scripture reading, the 23rd Psalm being repeated by the 
audience, after which Rev. F. A. Johnson offered prayer. 
After singing, Miss Millie Metcalf read the remarks which 
Mrs. Cornelia Metcalf had intended to make but was not able 
to do so, although she occupied a place on the platform. 
Rev. N. E. Heald gave a short address followed by singing 
and an address by Rev. Arthur Warren. Rev. H. C Woods 
read a short tribute written by Rev. F. E. Woods who was 
unable to be present. After another song by the choir, 
Mrs. Minerva Roberts told of some of flie early residents 
who had been a great help to her, followed by a few remin- 
iscences by Rev. H. C. Woods. Another song followed 
after which Rev. E. O. Taylor addressed the audience. 
After singing "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" Rev. 
H. C. Woods pronounced the benediction, 

The W. C. T. U. medal contest at the hall Monday 
evening was largely attended and the program was very 
good. Music was furnished by the orchestra. Mrs. R. T. 
Brooks sang a solo which was very fkie. A male quartette 
— Messrs. Robert Warren, S. E. Wilmot, D. D. Gordon, and 
Eben Haynes, also furnished music and Robert Woods 
sang a solo. There were seven contestants for the medal — 
Clare Davis, Florence Brady, Newton Hadley, Helen Tay- 
lor, Ethel Stearns, Leighton Morris, and Imogene Lane. 
The judges awarded the medal to Imogene Lane. 

— Rushford Spectator. 



460 



I 



Centennial and Home Coming Week 
FARMERS' DAY, AUGUST i8, 1908 

AFTERNOON PROGRAM, I P. M. 

Music Band 

Prayer Rev. T. P. Poate 

Music Orchestra 

Address Surface, Soil and Forests 

Eugene Hammond, Cuba, N. Y. 

Song Choir 

Address The Dairying Industry 

D. B. Sill, Cuba. N. Y. 

Recitation Miss Kate Proctor 

Music Orchestra 

History Rushford Cheese Factory 

Dr. H. C. Elmer, Ithaca, N. Y. 
Five-minute speeches by old Rushford Farmers. 
Music Band 

EVENING PROGRAM, 7:30 P. M. 

Music Orchestra 

Recitation Miss Imogene Lane 

Song . Quartet 

Address Eugene Hammond, Cuba, N. Y. 

Recitation Ely Mulliken 

Music Orchestra 

Address Rev. Arthur Warren, Butler, Pa. 

Music Band 

CENTENNIAL DAY, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19, 1908 

AFTERNOON PROGRAM, I P. M. 

Music Orchestra 

Address by President W. W. Bush 

461 



Great Celebrations 

Response Rev. H. C. Woods 

Song, Home Sweet Home .... Double Quartet 

Eneas Gary Rev. F. E. Woods 

The Gordons Miss Ellen Gordon 

(Reader, Miss Genevieve McCall.) 
Song, The Old Oaken Bucket .... Double Quartet 

The Woods Mrs. Ira Calkins 

Song, Away to the Woods .... Double Quartet 

The Pioneers Mrs. E. C. Gilbert 

Recitation from Snow Bound . . Miss Alary Johnson 

Song. Annie Laurie Double Quartet 

The McCalls Mrs. A. M. Taylor 

Reminiscences J. B. Jewell 

(Reader, Allan H. Gilbert.) 

Song, Cousin Jedediah Double Quartet 

Casualties J. G. Benjamin 

Music Orchestra 

EVENING PROGRAM, 7:30 P. M. 

Music Orchestra 

The Early Settlers Mrs. E. C Gilbert 

The Old Time Customs .... Mrs. W. W. Merrill 

Song, Home Again Double Quartet 

Movements Miss Ellen Lyman 

Reminiscences and Characteristics 

Mrs. Helen Judd 

(Reader, Mrs. A. E. White.) 
Song, Comin' Thro' the Rye .... Double Quartet 
Recitation, The Old Band .... Greydon R. Davis 

Music, Poor Nellie Gray Band 

Reminiscences Mrs. Cornelia G. Green 

The Semi-Centennial Mrs. E. C. Gilbert 

(Reader, Allan H. Gilbert.) 

462 



Centennial and Home Coming Week 

Poem by Mrs. Cynthia Woodworth 

Mrs. R. T. Brooks 

Song, Aukl Lang Syne By the Audience 

Our Bells Miss Katherine Baldwin 

Our Newspapers E. C. Gilbert 

Song, Long, Long Ago Double Quartet 

Reminiscences of East Rush ford, Kelloggville 

and Rush Creek A. B. Ackerly 

Music Band 

SCHOOL DAY, AUGUST 20, 1908 

AFTERNOON PROGRAM, I P. M. 

Grand Parade, headed by the Rushford Cornet 
Band, the pupils of each district in the 
Town of Rushford, the graduates of the 
Rushford High School and the Philo- 
mathean Society of the Rushford Aca- 
demy will march the length of Main 
street to the school grounds where short 
exercises will be held. 

Music Duet 

Anna Merrill and Elsie Tarbell. 

History of the School Miss Ellen Lyman 

Music Solo 

Robert Woods. 

Remarks by Representatives of the several 
School Societies 

Philomathean W. F. Bement 

Mystic Mrs. M. E. Roberts 

Polyhymnian .... Miss Myrtie E. Nye 
Present Philomathean. .Miss Kate Proctor 

Music Duet 

Anna Merrill and Elsie Tarbell 

463 



Great Celebrations 

Reminiscences of School Life by former Prin- 
cipals and Students. 

Music Quartet 

Millie C. Metcalf, Jennie Wilmot, Charles 
Damon, Robert Woods. 

THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE 
RUSHFORD HIGH SCHOOL 

EVENING PROGRAM, 7:30 P. M. 

Music Orchestra 

Niobe, Overture, Mackie Beyer. 
Address of Welcome .... Winifred Merrill '06 

Response Grover James '08 

Song Alumni 

Original Poem Lucy M. Poate '02 

Paper Cora Beaumont '89 

My Trip to the Black Hills. 

Piano Solo Anna Merrill '04 

La Czarine, Louis Ganne. 

Recitation Helen ^Murray '06 

An Old Sweetheart of Mine. 
Greetings from Absent Alumni Members . . 

Reader, Allan Gilbert '03 

Music Orchestra 

Diamond Necklace Overture, J. Hermann. 

Remarks Friend and Members of Alumni 

Song Alumni 

Music Orchestra 

Koontown Koonlets. 
Adjournment of Members of Alumni Associa- 
tion to Informal Reception at Agricul- 
tural Hall. 

464 



Centennial and Home Coming Week 

SOLDIERS' AND G. A. R. DAY, FRIDAY, 

AUGUST 21 



MORNING. 

II a. m. — Visiting and other comVades will report 

to G. A. R. Headquarters for registration. 
Noon — Dinner. 

AFTERNOON. 

1:15 p. m. — Veterans will form in line and march 

to the hall. 
I 130 p. m. — Music by the band. 

Prayer Rev. F. A. Johnson 

Music Orchestra 

Address 

..Past Department Commander Judge Swift 

Honor Roll Comrade W. W. Bush 

Quartet. 

Addresses by State Department Chaplain, Rev. 

H. C. Woods, and others. 

EVENING. 

7 :oo — Lighting of Camp Fires. 

7 130 — Music by Band, and march to hall. 

Prayer — Rev. Mr. Poate. 

Quartet. 

Addresses 

.... Rev. J. G. Macklin and Rev. T. F. Parker 

Music Orchestra 

Address Past Dept. Com. Judge H. J. Swift 

Address. .State Dept. Chaplain, Rev. H. C. Woods 

Music. 

Benediction Rev. H. C. Woods 

465 

30 



Great Celebrations 

X'isiting delegates will be entertained both day and 
night by Woodworth Post. 

By Order of Committee. 

SPECTATOR COMMENTS, ETC. 

WE have been unable to find any words in Webster's 
or the Standard dictionaries that express the measure 
of the success of Rushford's Old Home Week or the good 
time we all had. Words are entirely inadequate. It was 
simply the greatest event in the history of the town and we 
doubt if any town ever had such a good time. There was 
no dissension of any kind. Everybody here was happy and 
united in making everybody else happy. Our love for the 
people who have been absent from Rush ford for various 
years and their affection for the old town and friends 
just filled the air with good cheer — so much so that even 
the strangers within our gates felt its effect and all report 
a grand good time. 

The start last week Tuesday showed plainly that the 
success of the occasion was a great deal more than we had 
ventured to hope. Each day seemed to add to the crowds 
and the interest, and Friday, Patriotic Day, closed the 
grand week of festivities in a whirlwind of glory and en- 
thusiasm galore. 

The Midway at the lower end of ]\Iain Street was well 
patronized. 

Wednesday there were more than two thousand peo- 
ple on Main Street. 

The descendants of Eneas Gary, held an informal re- 
ception at the close of the exercises Wednesday afternoon, 
at the home of Mrs. F. A. Jagers, in honor of Mrs. Achsah 
Griffin Champlin, the only granddaughter represented. 

466 




Mr. and Mrs. Irving McCall 



Great Celebrations 

IMPRESSIONS OF OLD HOME WEEK. 

Judge H. J. Swift says it was the most delightful time 
he has had in years. 

Rev. Henry Clay Woods says: It was the greatest 
week of a life time, living over a century's experiences in 
six days. 

Editor Spectator : — 

Will you kindly give me room enough in your col- 
umns to extend to the people of Rushford my congratula- 
tions on their achievements of the past week? 

I had expected that the week would be a great suc- 
cess, but was wholly unprepared for such a celebration 
as we have had. I have been constantly amazed at the 
grand scale of the preparations and the remarkable at- 
tention that has been given to minutest details. Everyone 
acting on the various committees seemed to be just the 
person for the place and performed his or her duty in a 
manner that showed at every point the master hand. 

To have conceived such a celebration and to have 
carried it through with such spirit and vim required execu- 
tive and organizing ability of a high order, and I, for one, 
cannot refrain from expressing my appreciation of what 
has been accomplished. 

Yours very sincerely, 

H. C. Elmer. 

FROM MRS. ALICE GORDON HOOKER. 

Old Home Week has come and gone and the event 
will always be remembered with pleasure by all who were 
present. Everything passed off harmoniously and the 
spirit of hospitality prevailed throughout the entire week. 
I believe the occasion was one of pleasure and enjoyment 

468 



Centennial and Home Coming Week 

to all the old home-comers and it was a great pleasure to 
me to meet so many of the old residents. 

I wish to express my appreciation of what has been 
accomplished during Old Home Week at my old home. 
\'ery sincerely yours, 

Alice Gordon Hooker. 

letter from c. w. persons. 

Jamestown, X. Y., Dec. 28, 1908. 
Dear Editor : — 

Your Old Home Week was certainly a grand success 
and more. Y^ou almost made us ashamed to receive so 
much at your hands free gratis, but you surely showed 
yourselves anything but degenerate sons of noble sires. 

Yours truly, 

C. Wesley Persons. 

Things that followed in the wake of Rush ford's Cen- 
tennial : 

1. A knowledge of what Rush ford people are able to 
do if united. 

2. Many post-cards. 

3. A date from which to reckon. 

4. Many pleasant memories. 

5. The marriage of Mary Calkins, granddaughter of 
Watson Woods, and Irving McCall, grandson of Dr. Wm. 
McCall and Dan Peck. 

6. The book Rushford and Rushford People. 



469 



Great Celebrations 

THE RELICS 

H. J. W. G. 

THIS department of the Centennial was under the 
charge of Frank Board. A large number of relics 
connected with the early history of the town were brought 
by old families and placed on exhibition in the two west 
rooms of the Academy. In and out of these rooms visitors 
were constantly passing. At the right as one entered, were 
pictures galore of early settlers and former residents. Hang- 
ing high on the same side was a blue and white coverlet 
that once belonged to Mrs. Charles Benjamin. It was woven 
in Warsaw in 1839, the year of her marriage. The yarn 
of which it was made was spun at home and part of it was 
colored in the blue dye tub. Next to the coverlet was an 
effective bed quilt made by Airs. Benjamin. The red roses, 
green leaves and stems of this quilt were hemmed onto 
white blocks and stuffed with cotton before the blocks were 
set together and the fine quilting done. Besides these, two 
pewter platters over a hundred years old, and two small 
hair trunks, once belonging to Levi Benjamin, were brought 
by Mrs. Arcelia Hall. 

In the Crocker collection was a blue and white cover- 
let — the blue, wool, the white, linen — made by Mrs. Sally 
Frost, great grandmother of Mrs. Caroline Crocker; a 
white bed-spread heavily tufted in various patterns, with 
white cotton yarn, made by Mrs. Nancy Crocker; a pine 
cradle in which Oramel Crocker was rocked, and a Bible 
so old that the letter "s" was long. 

A carpenter's tool, now rarely seen, was a broad-ax, at 
one time the property of Deacon Samuel Westcott, who 
was born in 1781. Near the fireplace with its two hanging 
kettles, hung a warming pan, about one foot in diameter 

470 



The Relics 




Among the Relics 

and four or five inches deep, with a perforated copper 
cover and a long wooden handle. It was brought to Rush- 
ford in 1834 by Deacon Urian Westcott, father of the late 
rJeacon Cyrus Westcott. 

A preacher was to pass the night at the home of one 
of his parishioners. He stepped out, and, since the night 
was cold, the good housewife thought she would take the 
opportunity to warm his bed ; so, putting some coals from 
the fireplace into the warming pan she hastened to the 
room where he was to sleep and quickly thrust the pan 
between the sheets. The preacher was in the bed. 

In the fireplace in the south relic room were andirons 
on which to place the wood, and near at hand was a Dutch 
oven or roasting kitchen, a tin box-like arrangement with 
handles and a shelf. It was open on the side to be placed 



471 



Great Celebrations 

toward the fire, on the opposite side was a little door which 
could be opened when basting the meat. 

There was also a cradle made of a piece of log hol- 
lowed out on one side ; the rockers were made of a bar- 
rel head split in two. This brought to mind the sap- 
trough cradles of pioneer days. 

Near the south windows stood a high four-post cord 
bedstead with canop)' top and valance. The bed was 
made up with a straw and a feather bed, hand woven and 
hand made linen sheets, patchwork quilt, blue and white cov- 
erlet and small pillows. This bedstead was once the Rev. 
Thomas Pratt's; it is now Mrs. J. G. Benjamin's. 

Hanging on the wall of the south room was a quilt of 
840 pieces, pieced by Mrs. Alice Bartow Davis the last year 
of her life. When she celebrated the hundredth anni- 
versary of her birthday, six generations were present. A 
representative of each generation formed a group which 
was photographed. The youngest sat in the great-great- 
great grandmother's lap. This picture was also on exhi- 
bition. Alice Bartow Davis, grandmother of Hiram Kellogg, 
was born December 14, 1783. She died in Rushford Octo- 
ber 28, 1884. 

Among the exhibits was a board over three feet in 
width, sawed by O. D. Benjamin and C. G. Leavens from 
the sixth log of a tree that was bought of Aaron Rice for 
one dollar. 

A horse fork of the early type was brought to the 
rooms by Thomas Williams. When in use, the large four- 
tined fork was pushed by the foot into the hay which was 
carried to the desired place by means of horse power. Mr. 
Williams also brought a winnowing scoop. This belonged 
to the period when the wind blew the chaff from the grain. 

472 



The Relics 

The tall clock that once ticked for Oliver D. Benjamin 
stood with its face toward the crowd, but was silent. 

The swingles were wooden knives about two feet long 
used to beat flax to take out any small particles of bark left 
by the flax-brake. The flax must be as dry as tinder when 
swingled. The hetchels were boards set with many long 
iron teeth. The flax was dampened and drawn through the 
hetchels, thus the long fibers were laid into continuous 
threads and the tow or short fibers combed out. One of 
the most pleasing sights in the Relic Rooms was Mrs. 
Christiann Belknap seated at her little wheel with her foot 
on the treadle, the flax wrapped around the spindle, spin- 
ning the fiber into a long, even thread. On the wheel was a 
cup of water in which she moistened her fingers as she 
spun the flax which by the movement of the wheel was 
wound around the bobbins. 

The wool cards were two rectangular pieces of thin 
board with handles ; to each board was fastened a smaller 
rectangle of leather set with slightly bent iron teeth. These 
were used to card the wool into long, slender rolls. The 
large wheel was used for spinning the soft, fleecy rolls into 
yarn which was wound from the spindle into skeins on the 
reel. The wheel and the reel were the property of Mrs. 
Amanda Cady. 

In the Newberry Eddy collection were a sickle, a Dutch 
neck-yoke used by Mr. Eddy on one of his teams when he 
drove through from Vermont, an iron skillet with long legs, 
a sausage gun which consisted of two parts, one part re- 
sembled an elongated, wooden potato masher, the other 
part was a tin cylinder with nozzle. In its palmy sausage- 
stuffing days the cylinder boasted of a pair of handles. There 
were also a wooden 1)rea(l tray with cover, painted red. 

473 



Great Celebrations 

brought from Mt. Holly, Vermont, and a framed picture 
of Mr. Eddy, resembling his grandson, D. W. Gilbert. 

In the Thomas collection were a saw purchased in 
Wales in 1808 by William G. Thomas, father of John J. 
Thomas; a Welsh Bible one hundred years old, and a 
pewter plate belonging to Mrs. Carrie Thompson. In 
colonial times pewter platters were found on every table. 
They were kept as bright as silver by being scoured with 
rushes. 

Among the samplers was one made by Rosina Cleasby, 
the mother of Mrs. Jane White. It was a square of loosely 
woven brown linen on which were worked fancy stitches in 
various colors, the alphabet in three different kinds of let- 
ters, the numbers to thirteen, and the name Rosina Cleasby. 

In the collection of combs was a large tortoise shell 
back-comb, semi-circular in form. In April, 1832, when 
Rosina Cleasby was married to Barnes Blanchard in Peach- 
am, Vermont, this was one of her wedding gifts. 

On one of the supports hung a portrait, 

"Who the painter was none may tell, — 
One whose best was not over well." 

The child in the picture had yellow hair and a ghastly 
complexion. Although the face and body were posed for 
a front view, the feet were about to start in a side direc- 
tion with an unknown gait. This was supposed to be the 
likeness of Mrs. Ellen White Hubbell when three years of 
age. It once adorned the home of Samuel White. 

A curious relic was a large black frame decorated with 
black fruit, and with lilies, daisies, asters and petunias in 
black leather. Within the frame was a glass, on the back 
of which was painted a wreath of red roses, green leaves, 
tulips and small purple flowers. Back of the wreath was 

474 



The Relics 

tinsel, giving a sheen to the flowers. In the center of the 
glass was a small picture of Miss Harriet Jewell, sister of 
Mrs. W. W. Woodworth. This picture belonged to Mrs. 
Ida White Woods. 

Allegany County maps of 1856 were on exhibition. 
Ossian was then the northeastern town of the county. On 
the map was a picture of Rushford Academy, the front 
yard of which was enclosed by a picket fence. There were 
then no verandas, but on all sides of the building were win- 
dows of a third story; the roof was dignified by a balustrade, 
and the cupola was ornamented by green lattice on the 
sides and scrolls on the top. 

Framed and hung on one of the columns was a fresh- 
looking handbill, giving the names of the officers, the com- 
mittee of arrangements, and the program of the Semi- 
centennial. It belonged to Frank Board. 

After the Centennial, a tag was picked up bearing these 
words, "Mrs. E. C. Gilbert — Age not known." It had been 
on a foot-stove in one of the Relic Rooms. A foot-stove 
was a perforated tin box in a wooden frame to which was 
fastened a bail ; in the box was an iron pan for coals. In 
the days when there were no stoves in the churches, foot- 
stoves were carried to church by women and children. 

C. F. Mason contributed to the collection a fire-pan, 
made of iron, formerly used to carry coals from the neigh- 
bors when one's fire had gone out. In form it resembled 
a corn popper. 

An interesting relic was a paid of handcufifs, because 
"thereby hangs a tale." B — r was arrested by Constable 
Simon Gordon for breaking into the store of Lyman 
Congdon and stealing boots and shoes. He was held in 
custody at the lower hotel. A pair of handcuffs were needed, 
so, although it was Sunday, Chauncey McDonald at once 

475 



Great Celebrations 

made a pair in his shop. DeWitt McDonald, then about 
seven years old, was in the shop at the time. He remembers 
going to the hotel with his father to see the fetters riveted 
and bolted onto the burglar. 

Near old firearms was a horn, which Frank Board 
said Bowen Gordon used to help save his country. Mrs. 
Seward Mulliken sent to the Rooms a bundle of papers, the 
Netvs Letter, published in Rushford in 1859. The paper 
was taken by her father, J. E. Bixby. 

Perforated tin lanterns that once contained "the light 
of other days" were there. The candle molds were six or 
twelve upright tin cylinders in two rows fastened to a base 
and connected at the top. When candles were to be made, 
across the top of the molds were placed two rods from 
which hung wick into each cylinder. Into the molds was 
poured the melted tallow which when cold made smooth 
hard candles. 

There were pieces of mulberry pink and white, blue 
and white, and black and white crockery; specimens of 
hand made embroidery; caps for babies and old fashioned 
bonnets, conspicuous among which was a barndoor bonnet 
of white leghorn trimmed within and without with white 
gauze ribbon. One of our poets referred to such a bonnet 
when he said "a face adown a leghorn lane." It was the 
wedding bonnet of the first Mrs. Dr. Russell Trail; she 
came to Rushford as a bride. It belonged to Miss Emily 
Higgins. 

In a case near a front window, side by side, were two 
beautiful bead bags upon which many women cast longing 
eyes. 

Wilbur Freeman had for inspection an "article" given 
by the Holland Land Company to Josiah Freeman. Eneas 

476 



Music of Old Home Week 

Gary seemed to be local agent for the company, since re- 
ceipts for payments upon land were signed by him. 

In one of the cases was a smooth thin piece of wood 
about three inches wide and ten or twelve inches long, which 
fashion once decreed should be worn as a front support in 
a woman's corset. 

Framed and under glass was one of J. B. Gordon's 
baby dresses. It was made out of his Grandmother Gary's 
wedding dress ; through the cream colored ground of the 
fabric ran a heavy crimson vine. 

There was the tall clock of Mrs. Nancy Gary Woods 
ticking as in the days when it stood in the farm house in 
Podonque. A picture of the "first white woman," bringing 
to mind her grandson, the Rev. H. C. Woods of Bath, was 
happily hung upon the door of the clock. 

"Through days of sorrow and of mirth, 
Through days of death and days of birth. 
Through every swift vicissitude 
Of changeful time, unchanged it has stood 
And as if, like God, it all things saw, 
It camly repeats those words of awe, — 

Forever — never ! 

Never — forever!" 

THE CHOIRS, THE ORCHESTRA, THE DOUBLE 

QUARTET AND THE BAND OF OLD 

HOME WEEK 

Clara Elizabeth Poate— Helen J. White Gilbert 

OM Sunday, a chorus composed of the church choirs of 
the village and led by D. W. Woods rendered hymns 
of the older times in a manner calculated to arouse memo- 
ries of long ago. Among the many familiar hymns were : 

477 



Great Celebrations 

"Joy to the World," "Coronation," and "Come, Thou Al- 
mighty King." Others, though not so well known, thrilled 
one with their power. Among these were "While Shep- 
herds Watched Their Flocks by Night," and "On Jordan's 
Stormy Banks I Stand." Another still less familiar, "Show 
Pity, Lord, O Lord Forgive," a good old Methodist hymn, 
was sung in slow and dirge-like manner fitted to its dismal 
import. 

As was the custom in years gone by, the singing was, 
as far as possible, congregational. Everyone joined in with 
zest. The older ones gladly lent their voices to swell the 
chorus and thus each one derived peculiar pleasure in feel- 
ing himself a part of this, the first day of Old Home Week. 

In the record of Rushford's Old Home Week, the 
Rushford Orchestra must not be forgotten. Mrs. F. C. Bal- 
lard acted as pianist. Dr. Ballard and Mrs. John A. James 
played first violin. Miss Helen Taylor second violin, Dean 
Gordon trombone, Fred Woods clarinet, William Burton first 
cornet, Miss Bessie Thomas second cornet, A. J. Lyon drum. 

The faithfulness and skill which they evinced and the 
readiness with which they did their part afforded great 
pleasure. 

One of the most delightful features of Centennial Day 
was the singing of old songs by the Double Quartet, the 
personnel of which was Mrs. F. G. Gordon and Mrs. N. M. 
Woods, soprano ; Mrs. William W. Bush and Miss Marena 
Woods, alto ; Dr. E. D. Kilmer and Fred K. Woods, tenor ; 
D. W. Woods and A. P. Benjamin, bass. There were the 
songs, "Home, Sweet Home," "Plome Again," and "Long, 
Long Ago" that appealed tenderly to many present; that 
beautiful song, "The Old Oaken Bucket;" the sweet love 
songs. "Comin' thro' the Rye" and "Annie Laurie ;" the 
breezy song, "Away to the Woods," and the rollicking 

478 



Music of Old Home Week 

"Cousin Jedediah," with its "Jerusha, put the kettle on, 
Well all "take tea." 

One of the most satisfactory results of the Centennial 
was the revival of the Rushford Cornet Band, the mem- 
bers of which were as follows: W. F. Benjamin, leader, 
E flat cornet; Wm. Burton, solo cornet; Dr. E. D. Kilmer, 
solo cornet ; Fred K. Woods, clarinet ; Kendall Plardy, first 
cornet ; Greydon R. Davis, second cornet ; Clare R. Davis, 
second cornet ; Miner Taylor, third cornet ; Stephen Wil- 
mot, tenor cornet ; Clare Gere, slide trombone ; D. D. Gor- 
don, valve trombone ; DeWitt C. Stone, solo alto ; Roy 
Washbon, solo alto; Arthur Alderman, second alto; W. W. 
Thomas, baritone ; Clarence Thomas, baritone ; Warren Had- 
ley, tuba; A. J. Lyon, snare drum; D. W. Woods, bass 
drum. 

Old Home Week wouldn't be Old Home Week with- 
out the band ; so early in the year horns were collected and 
made as good as new, others were purchased, and for 
months practising was going on and the hearts of the peo- 
ple were made glad by the music. Wm. Burton, then living 
in Rushford, not only added the music of his own cornet, 
but by suggestions improved the music of the whole. So 
when the celebration opened all were ready. Though the 
band was three times on the program Farmers' Day, twice 
Centennial Day, and twice Soldiers' and G. A. R. Day, that 
was a small part of what they did ; in the parades, in the 
streets, on the Academy lawn, and at the ball games their 
cheering strains were heard. Guests at the homes of C. J. 
Elmer and W, W. Bush were honored with their serenades. 
Sometimes the music of the horn would give way to the 
melody of their voices. To Rushford people it seemed as 
if "there were never strains of music just like our band 
made." 

479 



Great Celebrations 

All the week they had been doing serious work, so at 
the close they gave themselves up to a frolic. The merry- 
go-round was taken by storm and merrily round they went 
to the music of their own making. Our dignified Dr. Kilmer, 
mounted on a hobby-horse, had considerable difficulty keep- 
ing his lips to the mouthpiece of his horn. All the while the 
manager was looking on with a half-astonished, half-amused 
expression. The moving picture show was next visited. 
and as the pictures were being exhibited, when the word 
was given, they would vigorously clap their hands. The 
fortune-teller closed her tent and "silently stole away" ere 
her visitors came. It was a happy thought to visit the homes 
of the Executive, School Day and Historical Committees. 
From house to house they went, not forgetting the Marshal, 
giving joy to the hearts of the committees both by their 
music and their cheers. As they passed on one could hear 
in the distance the strains of "Marching through Georgia." 
Finally they reached the camp-fire in front of the Academy 
and there by the dying fire they played the last piece of Old 
Home Week. 

The names of the different early settlers from whom 
seven members of the double quartet of Old Home Week 
descended are given below: Mrs. Jennie Gordon, W. D. 
Woods, Fred K. Woods and Marena Woods, descended 
from Joshua Wilson and Daniel Woods ; Fred K. Woods 
and Marena Woods, from Samuel White ; Mrs. William W". 
Bush, from Abel Tarbell ; Samuel Persons, Elijah Metcalf 
and Robert English ; Earl D. Kilmer, from James Kendall 
and Ephriam Morrison ; Abram P. Benjamin, from Abra- 
ham J. Lyon, Daniel Kingsbury, James Gordon and Levi 
Benjamin. 



480 



Great Celebrations 

FARMERS' PARADE 

R. M. Wilmarth 

THE committee appointed for Farmers' Day were Dean 
Gordon, Roy Taylor, O. T. Wilmot and S. E. Kil- 
mer. O. T. Wilmot acted as chairman. 

At half-past ten o'clock in the morning, on the day 
appointed, Romain Benjamin was seen coming up the street 
on horseback, dressed as marshal of the day. This meant 
the Farmers' Parade had started. Six Indians, also on 
horseback, were next seen. Their costumes were so com- 
plete that it w'as difficult to tell who they were. Then came 
the wagon carrying the Rush ford Cornet Band. Their 
countenances said plainly that they had mastered the fight 
and were ready to furnish first-class music during the week. 
The line of floats and company of men took the street, the 
police were lined up, and the parade went on amid throngs 
of spectators. 

Following the band was a covered wagon, driven by 
Floyd Bosworth, representing early settlers coming to Rush- 
ford. Attached to this wagon was a three-pail kettle which 
came from Victor, New York, eighty years ago. Such a 
wagon is now called a prairie schooner. 

The first float was arranged by R. W. Wilmarth and 
his neighbors in school district number two, known as the 
English district. It carried about fourteen young people of 
this district, all dressed in old style costumes, representing 
an old time wedding. One young man wore Benny Leon- 
ard's wedding suit which was about ninety years old. The 
principal characters were Arlie Lewis, bride; R. J. Wilson, 
groom; Alary Baldwin, maid of honor; Alexander Nesbit, 
best man, and George Perry, officiating clergyman. The 
float was finely decorated with bunting and flags. 

48t 



Farmers' Parade 

Float number two was arranged by E. R. Belknap and 
E. Stone of Hardy's Corners. The team was a span of 
oxen owned and driven by Clair Agett of Farmersville. 
The float represented a husking bee and dance of the olden 
time. The costumes were old; and there were plenty of 
ears of red corn in evidence. One would notice especially 
the violinist (Wm. L. Cooper) on this float. He looked like 
a minister of the gospel. 

Float number three was driven by Jay Vaughan. On 
this wagon was an ash log which was being split into fence 
rails by Elijah Lyman. Although without decoration, this 
float was perfect in every respect. 

Float number four, driven by Wilbur Powell, was loaded 
with hemlock logs. The bark was being taken off the logs 
for tanning purposes by Walter Howard, Alva Powell and 
others. The bark spud and cant-hook attracted attention. 

Following this float was a company of men, some 
twenty in number, carrying sickles, scythes, grain cradles, 
wooden pitchforks, flails, winnowing scoops, in fact all the 
implements used in cutting and threshing crops in the prim- 
itive style. The guard with this company carried flintlock 
muskets and an old-time lantern. 

After this company came a number of different kinds 
of modern farming implements, furnished by A, M. Tarbell 
and E. C. Gilbert, among which were a sulky plow, a grain 
drill, a land roller, a reaper and binder, a side-delivery hay 
rack and a hay loader. 

Float number five was designed and driven by Harry 
Cole and William Westfall of Rush Creek. This repre- 
sented an old time threshing outfit. The grain in the sheaf 
was threshed with flails and cleaned with winnowing scoops 
or with a fanning mill. 

Next came a modern threshing machine, a traction 

483 



Great Celebrations 

steam engine with tank-wagon and separator, furnished by 
Clyde Colburn of East Rush ford. Jay McElheney was the 
engineer. Knowles Baldwin preceded the rig with a lantern. 

Float number six was designed by Dezell Hill to show 
the mode of dairying years ago. Here were the wooden 
trough for milk, the wooden milk pail, the wooden dash 
churn, the wooden butter bowl with ladle, an old-fashioned 
cast-iron dairy stove which was used for heating milk to 
make cheese, and a wooden cheese press. 

Float number seven was planned by Roy Taylor. On 
this were modern utensils for dairying purposes, such as a 
tin pail, a centrifugal cream separator, a barrel butter churn, 
wooden molds for fancy butter prints, paper boxes for but- 
ter bricks, a milk cooler, a cheese press — in fact everything 
in this line that is up to date. 

Mr. Hill and Mr. Taylor are numbered among the best 
dairymen in the old town of Rushford, which has always 
been considered one of the best dairying sections in West- 
ern New York, the natural advantages of which are good 
pastures, good land, good water and good people. 

Float number eight, from East Rushford, was ar- 
ranged by Hiram Daley, Charles Moon, Fred McElheney 
and others. It represented a paring-bee in which about 
fifteen East Rushford people were rapidly paring and quar- 
tering apples, stringing the quarters, and hanging them in 
the sun to dry. A dance followed the paring-bee. This 
was one of the most elaborate floats in the parade. 

Float number nine, furnished by George Cole, was an 
ancient horse and cart driven by Miss Daisy Chaplin as bride- 
groom and Miss Arlie Jenks as bride. They were dressed 
in old style costumes. Most striking were the boots of the 
bridegroom and the beauty of the bride. Photographs of this 
float should be handed down to the next Centennial. 

484 



Farmers' Parade 

The one-horse carriage decorated with flowers and 
driven by Harrie Hall with his lady, was a sight never to 
be forgotten. It was one of the finest floral displays ever 
seen in Rushford. May this young man's path ever be 
strewn with flowers. 

Following the floats was a long line of farmers with 
their families in modern carriages. There were twenty-five 
or thirty rigs, double and single. 

At noon the parade is past. Dinner is over. But what 
do we hear? The people are asking, 'Ts this all we are to 
see of the Farmers' Parade?" "Why not repeat it?" So on 
the following Friday, August 21, G. A. R. Day, it was re- 
peated. 

This day the parade, led by the Woodworth G. A. R. 
Post in carriages, was the Farmers' and School Parades com- 
bined with some omissions and some additions. 

In the parade of Tuesday and Friday was the drug and 
grocery wagon of E. C. Gilbert drawn by Tony and Dell 
who had laid aside their plain matter-of-fact business air 
and were festive in their holiday attire of flags and bunt- 
ing. 

The load of pine stumps bearing the placard, "There'll 
be a hot time in the old town tonight" was a unique way of 
advertising the camp-fire of the evening. 

Not the least attractive feature of the mixed parade 
was W. F. Benjamin's delivery wagon covered with a pro- 
fusion of draperies of cheese cloth and crepe paper, with 
golden glow nodding from every available space. The 
horses, driven by G. W. Benjamin, entered heartily into 
the frolic, making a fine appearance with their gay decora- 
tions of golden glow. The load was composed of members 
of the Cynthian Club dressed in white and carrying large 
bouquets of yellow flowers. Taking part in the parade was 

485 



Great Celel^rations 

suggested only about an hour before the appointed time, 
but automobiles, telephones and the nimble fingers of the 
members, assisted by friends from Bradford, Camden and 
Cuba, made it possible for the club to appear. — L. 

Two automobiles driven by W. F. Benjamin of Rush- 
ford and E. F. Benson of Bufifalo carried the Rushford ball 
nine. 

There was also a troop of fifty men on horseback ar- 
ranged by A. B. Davis. The Indians made a dash down 
Main Street followed by a troop of horsemen firing guns 
and revolvers. This dash was exciting, but everyone came 
out alive and well. 



SCHOOL DAY PARADE 
Lucy Marsh Poate — Clara Elizabeth Poate — Allan H. Gilbert 

THE parade which opened the exercises of School Day 
was under the direction of Mrs. Catherine Tarbell, 
to the admirable taste and unusual administrative talent of 
whom was due much of its excellence. At half-past two 
the line formed in front of Agricultural Hall. First came 
a band of school children all clad in white and bearing 
American flags. Then followed in order of years, beginning 
with the most recent, the graduating classes of Rushford 
High School and Rushford Union School. They were fol- 
lowed by those of an earlier time, the representatives of the 
second Philomathean Literary Society. To the music of the 
band the parade moved slowly down the north side of Main 
Street between lines of eager onlookers. The procession 
(after a pause for the taking of photographs) then passed 
up the other side of Main Street as far as the Academy 
where were held the concluding exercises of the parade 

486 



Great Celebrations 

before the porch as a reviewing stand. As each class was 
called upon by R. W. Benjamin, the marshal, it marched up 
to the stand and gave its stunt. 

1908. 

First came and last did go the infant class, the babes of 
1908. They had originally numbered eleven but owing to 
natural timidity, the mascuhne element did not parade. The 
more courageous maidens, by name Edith Howard, Ger- 
trude and Estella Crowell, Ruth James, Martha Williams, 
Jennie Wilmot, Ethelyn Woods and Edith Poate, were 
gowned in dainty white with crimson sashes. Their braids 
were decorously tied with red ribbons. Vigorous research 
has been made after the stunt of this particular class but 
all efforts have proved unavailing. It is said to have con- 
sisted of a yell ; doubtless the incoherent and unreasoning 
howl of infancy. 

1907. 

The four members of the class of 1907 who passed in 
review showed an interest in current events befitting recent 
graduates. Archie Lewis appeared in black frock coat and 
tall hat and bore a pennant inscribed "16 to i." If this wer^ 
not enough his tall hat was labelled "Bryan." Harrie Hall, 
similarly clad and much padded, carried a pennant lettered 
"G. O. P." and was proclaimed "Taft" by his hat band. 
The two young women of the class, Mary McFarland and 
Gwendolyn Gibby needed no peculiar costume when to ap- 
pear in such distinguished company and so merely bore 
their banner, " '07." Before the reviewing stand Bryan 
and Taft announced, "One of us is sure to be President." 

1906. 
The class of 1906 was represented by five young ladies. 
Misses ]\Iay Brady, Winifred Merrill, Helen Murray and 



School Day Parade 

Mille Metcalf, attired in quaint, short-waisted, sprigged 
muslin gowns, were preceded by Miss Louisa Harris at- 
tired in white with purple cap and sash, bearing a large 
gold banner. 

1905. 

The class of 1905 recalled to us our childhood and the 
days when we loved so dearly the old familiar rhymes of 
"Mother Goose." Here was every one of those dear rhyme 
people, from Miss Grace Hardy attired as "Old Mother 
Goose" herself, to Miss Winifred Hill, who posed as poor, 
timid little "Miss Muffet." Charles Damon, as bad "Tom 
the Piper's son" with the pig beneath him arm, walked with 
little "Boy Blue," better known among us as William Calkins, 
while the "Fat Man from Bombay," Grover Babbitt, fol- 
lowed with the "Queen of Hearts," Elizabeth Poate. There 
was Marena Woods, dressed as "Little Bo Peep," with her 
crook, walking with "Jack Horner," Elliott Gibby. Then 
followed "Red Riding Hood," Frona Brockway, with a 
basket of good things for her grandmother, and Cora Mc- 
Elheney, the "maiden all forlorn," with milking pail and 
stool. Greydon Davis, as "Good King Cole, that merry old 
soul," was attended by his faithful fiddlers. John Brady 
as "Simple Simon" followed, and last of all came Clare 
Mason, as "Old Mother Hubbard" with her dog — that dog 
which from very hunger would never stay by his mistress, 
but wandered continually, in search of the missing bone. 
As they passed each in turn recited the rhyme connected 
with his history, then all gave the class yell. 

1904. 

The picture presented by the class of 1904, Misses 
Anna Merrill and Genevieve McCall, was peculiarly charm- 
ing. These beautiful maids of sunny Spain, with dusky 
tresses and gleaming eyes, were attired in short red skirts 

489 



Great Celebrations 
and black laced bodices. Each carried a guitar and soon 
our ears were charmed by the familiar strains of Juanita 
sung by these sweet dancing girls of "Old Seville." 

1903. 

Next in order came six members of the class of 1903 
dressed to represent people famous in the history of Amer- 
ica. First in point of time was Pocahontas, personated by 
Grace Fuller (Mrs. Fred Miller). She wore a gaudy cos- 
tume gleaming with beads and spangles and given an abo- 
riginal touch by a headdress of waving feathers, and leg- 
gings trimmed with fringe. Next her was Priscilla Alden, 
represented by Katherine Baldwin in a simple costume sug- 
gesting the austerity of the Pilgrims. Ethel Tait, with 
powdered hair and black satin of antique fashion, appeared 
as Martha Washington. The following period was repre- 
sented by Allan H. Gilbert in the character of Daniel Web- 
ster, with high silk hat and black cravat wound about the 
neck. Such particles of snuff as fell on his black frock coat 
from the box freely offered to the bystanders, were wiped 
away with a silk handkerchief carried in the crown of the 
hat. The period of the Civil War was taken by Genevieve 
Pratt who appeared as Barbara Frietchie, in the hoop skirts 
and tight bodice of the time, bearing the flag so dear to her. 
More recent days were represented by Kate Proctor whose 
severe black bonnet and freely brandished hatchet pro- 
claimed her Carrie Nation. When the class of 1903 re- 
sponded to roll call, Daniel Webster, bearing a white ban- 
ner with the numerals of the class upon it in dark green, 
mounted the steps of the Academy, proclaimed, "Liberty and 
Union, now and forever, one and inseparable," and called 
upon the famous women of the class to respond with appro- 
priate sentiments. The broken English of Pocahontas was 

490 



School Day Parade 

not easily understood, but the "Why don't you speak for 
yourself, John?" of Priscilla was unmistakable. Martha 
Washington spoke of the Father of His Country, "First 
in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Coun- 
trymen." Barbara Frietchie gave her well known, "Shoot 
if you must this gray old head but spare your country's 
flag." Carrie Nation cried out, "Smash the saloon!" Then 
the class gave its yell and passed on. 

1902. 
In the year 1901-1902, Rush ford Union School was by 
some mysterious process apparently unproductive of change, 
transformed into Rushford High School. The first gradu- 
ating class of the new institution was not large. In fact 
there was but one member and that a small one. On "School 
Day" the class of 1902 was heralded by a Japanese page, 
better known in Rushford circles as Donald Leavens. At 
his heels came the class proper who paraded Main Street in 
the guise of an aristocratic Japanese lady. Miss Poate's 
stunt consisted of a deep salaam to the judges and the fol- 
lowing inspired utterances : "Teki teki no teki suri ambo 
so taki nudo." 

1901. 

The class of 1901 consisted of Mrs. Myrtie Metcalf 
Bush, Mrs. Ethel King Babcock and Miss Ruth Laning. 
They were gowned in quaint and charming costumes, which 
had figured in Rushford society years before the war. De- 
murely they walked along the way, with eyes cast down and 
folded hands. Deep courtesies they swept and then passed 
on with gentle grace and old-time dignity. 

1900. 

The class of 1900 was represented by but one of its. 
members. Earl G. Taylor, who endeavored to atone for his 

491 



Great Celebrations 

solitary state by the scope of his representation for he ap- 
peared with his tall form attired in the garb attributed to 
the kindly personification of the spirit of our nation, Uncle 
Sam. From the straps which held down his trousers to the 
numerals on his tall hat, no colors appeared save those of 
the American flag. 

1899. 

One of the beneficent effects of education was por- 
trayed by the class of 1899, represented by Carrie Tarbell 
and Frances Merrill garbed as Red Cross nurses. As every 
one knows, a uniform is of necessity becoming but these 
were unusually so. 

1897. 

One of the most charming features of the parade was 
the class of 1897, although only five of the original members 
were present. There were four young men, Clarence Thomas, 
Raymond Atwell, Earl Kilmer and Archie Taylor in white 
waists and red trousers and in their midst was the pony — 
we say the pony advisedly as Rush ford readers will under- 
stand — on which rode Miss Bessie Thomas picturesquely 
gowned in red and white. From a banner borne aloft 
streamers extended to each young man. Viewed from the 
artistic standpoint, this class deserved, perhaps, more ap- 
plause than any other. 

1896. 

Gold and white were the characteristic colors of Grace 
Claus Taylor. Grace Farwell Lynde, Edith Kendall Pettit, 
Mary Calkins (Mrs. Irving McCall) and Edna Merrill 
Thomas, the girls of '96. Like many of the other classes, 
they carried a standard inscribed with their numerals. Each 
member wore a beautiful garland of field daisies. 

492 



School Day Parade 

1895. 

The class of '95 played a simple but undeniably pretty 
part in the parade. The four young ladies, Delia Mason 
(Mrs. Lyon), Inez Leavens, Rena Taylor and Rena IMerrill 
Grove, wore huge pink and green hats. Each held a streamer 
attached to a banner proudly borne by Mr. Grover Hall, the 
one male representative of the class. A stanza of "School 
Days" was sung before the reviewing stand. 

I 889- I 893 

Next came, in cap and gown, Mrs. Margaret Kendall 
Pratt, Mrs. May Gordon Wilmot, Miss Cora Beaumont, 
Talcott Brooks and John Bush, the united classes of '89- '93. 
Very grave and dignified were our college men and maids, 
and proud indeed were we to call them ours. 

PHILOMATHEAN. 

Last in the procession but by no means least con- 
spicuous or least imbued with the spirit of the occasion 
came a group most of whom went to school in Rushford 
in the days of the second Philomathean Literary Society. 
Their costume led some at first glance to think them women 
but nearer approach dispelled all doubt in spite of sun bon- 
nets, calico dresses and brooms, for as Sir Evans says in 
the "Merry Wives of Windsor," "I like not when a oman 
has a great peard ; I spy a great peard under her muffler." 
W. H. Leavens appeared as an organ grinder and F. G. 
Gordon was leading a dog. Our dignified "Judge," R. B. 
Laning, drew a cart inscribed. "This is Bobbie Dusen- 
berry and his little wagon." L. E. Hardy was standard 
bearer and E. C. Gilbert rode a broom stick which cut great 
capers. The others were B. F. Babbitt, H. E. Tarbell, Wm. 
Ligelby, Lucian Benjamin, B. D. Kyes, Alex Conway and 

493 



Great Celebrations 

W. H. Benson. As their stunt before the reviewing stand 
the "old boys" sang "We are Yankee Doodle Boys," 

The excellent conduct of the parade as a whole and the 
diversity of the costumes of the participants, constantly 
presenting fresh features to the spectators, were worthy of 
the eager interest with which the crowd received the parade. 
What feature of Old Home Week will longer be vividly re- 
membered than this gay representation of the work of Rush- 
ford's School? 



OLD HOME WEEK AT RUSHFORD 

Mary Sherwood 

Among the pleasures of the year 
That woke my heart and gave it cheer 
Not one to me that was so dear 
As Old Home Week at Rushford. 

Arriving on Centennial Day, 
I saw the streets in fine array, 
And everything so bright and gay 
For Old Home Week at Rushford. 

But really it was best of all. 
The decorations of the hall 
And glorious ever to recall 
Of Old Home Week at Rushford. 

And on the rostrum as they read 
Of ancestors among the dead, 
Almost I saw and heard their tread 
Along the streets of Rushford. 

494 



1 



i 



Old Home Week at Rush ford 

Year after year they toiled along; 
And cheered their toil by hymn and song, 
To be recalled by future throng 
Centennial at Rushford. 

Their histories were all well told; 
The phases of their lives unrolled, 
Rut little dross amidst the gold. 
In the pioneers of Rushford. 

School Day opened by parade — 
The memory which will never fade. 
Of young and old, and how arrayed 
The pupils were of Rushford. 

Float after float glided along — 
Yell after yell both shrill and strong, 
Awaking laughter from the throng 
That filled the streets of Rushford. 

Friday was G. A. R. Day, 
The last is always best they say 
And in the mind will longer stay, 
And it was so at Rushford. 

For the parade was — yes — just grand! 
For those therein had all the sand 
To act their parts with heart and hand. 
To enliven the streets of Rushford. 

The veterans of course were there, 
And first of all they had their share 
Of honor, which they well might bear, 
The veterans of Rushford. 



495 



Great Celebrations 

Now it would take full many a day 
To all I saw or heard portray, 
And weave into this roundelay 
Of Old Home Week at Rushford. 

So I will quickly speed along, 
Skip speeches, only mention song 
That I may feel not in the wrong. 
About the time at Rushford. 

"Home, Sweet Home," and "Home Again' 
And "Annie Laurie's" sweet refrain, 
"Auld Lang Syne" like summer rain 
Refreshed our hearts at Rushford. 

And oft were wafted by the strain 
Of orchestra or band again 
To youthful days all void of pain. 
Of youthful days at Rushford. 

But I must not forget the door 
I opened oft and o'er and o'er 
I viewed the relics there in store, 
The curios of Rushford. 

In vain to give their meed of praise. 
How well preserved from ancient days, 
How plain to show in many ways 
The old time week of Rushford. 

But now a word I long to say. 
The greatest pleasure of each day 
Was greeting friends from far away 
Who were gathered there at Rushford. 

496 



Rush ford Baseball Team 

Although we ne'er again may meet 
To clasp the hand and kindly greet, 
The memory ever will be sweet 
Of Old Home Week at Rush ford. 



RUSHFORD BASEBALL TEAM 

Old Home Week 

Abram P. Benjamin 

Warner Catcher 

Charles VanDusen Right Field 

Barton Tarbell Third Base 

Abram P. Benjamin Left Field 

Matteson Pitcher 

Wm. G. Rice Second Base 

George \'anDusen Center Field 

Grevdon R. Davis First Base 

M. Ravmond Atwell Shortstop 

William W. Bush Manager 

August i8. 
RusHford II Fillmore 2 

August 19. 
Rushford2 Franklinville I 

August 20. 
Rushford 5 ^^''' ^ 

August 21. 
Rushford 6 P^elfast 4 



497 



Great Celebrations 
THE HOME COMING 

The following poem, written by Mrs. Esther Saville Al- 
len of Little Rock, Arkansas, was sent by Mrs. Ellen White 
Hnbbell to Helen White Gilbert soon after Rushford's Cen- 
tennial : 

Standing at eve in her doorway 
With the yearnings of hope in her breast, 

A mother, while night shades are low'ring 
Looks forth to the North and the West. 

Then tenderly turns to the Eastward, 
Where beats the great pnlse of the sea ; 

And anon to the far svmny Southland, 
O'er mountains and river and lea. 

Like emeralds the hills of her dwelling 
Her valleys are fair to behold ; 

Her streams are the clearest of crystal, 
Her sunsets the rarest of gold. 

And the years with the gentlest of fingers 
Have touched her on cheek, and on brow, 

Though she wears on her clustering tresses, 
The snows of a century now. 

Listen ! As in her soft, gentle accents. 
To her children wherever they roam. 

She calls, to come back from the highway 
To the cool sheltered paths of the home ; 

To revisit the dear scenes of childhood, 
Where Hope and Ambition first rhet, 

And which the bright glamor of youth-time 
Enfolds in its radiance yet. 

498 



The Home Coming 

They hear, and they come from the prairie, 
And the mountains exultant and free, 

From tlie cities of trade's ebbless surges, 
Thy children come, mother, to thee ! 

Aye, they come from the dim Northern forests 
Exultant with anthem of pines; 

And they come from the land of magnolias 
With the vine-wreathed temples and shrines. 

And what though their locks have grown thinner 
Or with dust of the highways are gray? 

And what though the tired feet falter 
From the roughness and length of the way? 

Since they come bearing with them their life work, 
With its crown of endeavor complete, 

And they lay it in grateful remembrance, 
Dear mother, at shrine of thy feet. 

But what of the graves of thy children 
Who hear not the summons to come. 

Once more to the rest and the shelter 
And the tender endearments of home; 

They who fell in the van of the battle. 
Or pined in the deadly stockade. 

But true to their flag and their country 
Met death and were never afraid? 

Now back to the worn dusty highway. 
To the sparkle and lees of life's wine; 

Aye, back to the toil and endeavor 
From the paths of the dear "Auld lang syne." 

But mother, dear mother, your blessing 
Ere we rev'rently turn to depart, 

With the fires of faith newly kindled. 
And a new song of hope in the heart. 

499 



T 



XV 

CHEESE 

EARLY CHEESE MAKING 
H. J. W. G. 

HE first cheese manufactured in Rushford was made 
by William Weaver and his sons, Joseph and Benja- 
min, about 1830, on a farm in Podonque now owned by Mrs. 
L. J. Thomas. This farm is on lot sixteen. William Weaver 
was a grandfather of Edwin, Isaac and Lorenzo Weaver. 

The hoops used in cheese making, were made of straight 
pine staves hooped with iron. The size of hoop used was ac- 
cording to the amount of milk. The cheeses were turned 
each day and greased with butter made by churning the 
cream that rose on the whey. The season's make was kept 
till fall when it was put into casks and hauled to Roches- 
ter. When the Genesee Valley Canal was opened, it was 
hauled to Cuylerville. The selling price was from four to 
six cents a pound. Charles Benjamin thought he was mak- 
ing money when he hauled cheese to Rochester and sold it 
for four and one-half cents a pound. 

Each farmer had his own cheese house, some of which 
are still standing. Women would rise at five, make their 
cheese and be at church with their children when the Sunday 
morning service commenced. 

The following appeared in the Republican Era of Sep- 
tember I, 1847: 

Cheese — As handsome a lot of cheese as we have ever 
seen was delivered at Witherspoon's grocery on Saturday, 
from the dairy of Joseph Weaver, Rushford, Allegany 

500 



Pineapple Cheese 

County. These Allegany dairies are among the finest that 
appear in market. — Rochester Democrat. 



PINEAPPLE CHEESE 

ABOUT 1810 Lewis M. Norton of Goshen, Litchfield 
County, Connecticut, invented and patented the process 
of making Pineapple Cheese. 

His son Robert worked with him in his factory at 
Goshen and became expert. In 1849 he visited Rushford 
and determined to introduce into tiiat town the business in 
which his father had succeeded so well in New England. 
In 185 1 he commenced the manufacture of Pineapple 
Cheese in a building that once stood back of the Academy 
but now is the north wing of the Rushford cheese factory. 
Teams were sent around each day to collect the curd pur- 
chased of the farmers. It was tied up in cloths, thrown 
onto a wagon prepared for the purpose and taken to the 
factory where it was pressed into iron molds, then put into 
netted bags made by women in the town, at their homes, 
for twelve cents each. The cheeses were then hung up to 
cure. They were very rich, one-third cream having been 
added to the natural richness of the milk. In form they 
were like pineapples. 

During the Civil War pineapple cheese sold for forty 
cents a pound. The usual price was twelve or fourteen 
cents or double that of ordinary cheese. They were placed 
four in a square box and shipped to New York, Philadel- 
phia, Baltimore or Chicago. 

In 1883 the business was transferred from Rushford 
to Attica where it was conducted by E. P. Norton, a nephew 

NdTK. — Arranged from an article written by John M. Minard 
for the RusJiford Spectator. 

501 



Cheese 

of Robert Norton, the pioneer pineapple cheese manufac- 
turer in New York State. When Robert Norton was mar- 
ried to Julia Horsford of Moscow, New York, his father 
cut a pineapple cheese which was twenty-six years old, just 
the age of the groom. C. J. Elmer was a partner of Robert 
Norton in the pineapple cheese business for twenty-five 
years. 

THE RUSHFORD CHEESE FACTORY 
H. J. W. G. 

IN September, 1863, Robert Morrow, Charles Benjamin 
and H. K. Stebbins commenced the erection of a cheese 
factory in Rush ford village. The following winter Mr. 
Morrow and Mr. Benjamin visited Herkimer County to 
learn the best methods of manufacturing cheese. The fac- 
tory was opened in July, 1864, with Martin Barnes of Her- 
kimer as head cheese maker. In the following November 
it was sold to Charles J. Elmer who still owns it. In 1866 
and 1867 Andrew Kimball managed the factory. 

For the first two or three years milk was made up from 
2,200 cows, some of the milk being hauled seven or eight 
miles. The factory then ran day and night, making in the 
height of the season two tons of cheese a day. It was not 
long before Mr. Elmer built other factories in the town. 
For a number of years Webb & Turner of New York took 
his entire output, shipping a large part of it to London and 
Liverpool. The quality of his cheese was such that it was 
eagerly sought by buyers. In the earlier years the entire 
product of his factories was hauled to Cuba or Castle. 

Mr. Elmer spent some time in England acquainting him- 
self with the demands of the English market. 

502 



Cheese Box Factories 

There have been great fluctuations in the price of cheese, 
the highest price paid being twenty-two cents a pound. The 
present price, June, 1909, is thirteen cents. 

John G. James was foreman of the factory twenty years, 
Lincoln Olthof two years, and Joseph McMurray is serving 
his twenty-first year in that capacity. 

This factory was one of the first in Western New York 
and the first in Allegany County. 

In 1866 A. J. and H. B. Ackerly built a cheese factory 
on the farm of Ackerly Company, two miles from Rushford 
village, on the Cuba road. D. B. Sill and Warren Damon 
were the salesmen. 



CHEESE BOX FACTORIES 
H. J. W. G. 

IN East Rushford, in the fifties, there was a sawmill where 
the McElheney sawmill now stands. Thirty rods west 
of the mill, Randolph Heald had a shop where he made 
cheese hoops and casks. About 1856 he made the first cheese 
boxes in Allegany County. The early boxes were of various 
sizes. The largest ones would hold sixty-pound cheese. He 
usually employed two men, one of whom was a cooper who 
made fifty-pound butter firkins. The shop was washed 
away in the flood of 1864. He then discontinued the bus- 
iness. 

For thirteen years there was no box factory in Rush- 
ford. 

In 1877 William Henry & Son rented the basement of 
Amba H. Alderman's sawmill on the Caneadea road, at the 
outskirts of Rushford village, where they made cheese boxes 
for five years. 

503 



Cheese 

In 1882 the Woods Brothers, C. E. and J. M. Woods, 
rented the same basement and carried on the busi- 
ness until 1885, when C. E. Woods sold his in- 
terest to G. C. Woods. In 1892 J. M. Woods sold 
his share to W. H. Woods. The firm of Woods Brothers 
continued until January 4. 1897, when A. M. Tarbell bought 
one-half interest of G. C. Woods. The firm Woods & Tar- 
bell continued until January 15, 1907, when A. ]\I. Tarbell 
bought one-half interest of W. H. Woods. A. M. Tarbell 
employs ( 1908) ten men and has from his factory an aver- 
age output of 65,000 boxes and from 20,000 to 30,000 set 
of heading. He delivers boxes to the following places : 
Angelica, West Almond, Fillmore, Belfast, Houghton, Hume, 
llelmont, Oramel and Rushford. 

The box factory is of great value to Rushford. 



504 



XVI 
FIRES 

H. J. W. G. 

IX 185 1 or 1852 the first Globe Hotel, which stood on Com- 
mercial Street at the head of Main Street, was burned. 
B. T. Roberts was then pastor of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Being a manager of men, he formed a double line 
extending north from the hotel. Men passing pails of water 
were in one line, and women passing back the empty pails 
were in the other. South of the hotel a similar line ex- 
tended to Samuel White's. They were all well at work, 
when John Holmes rushed up and down between the lines, 
pushing people right and left and shouting "Form a line." 
He also made himself useful by carefully carrying the feather 
beds down stairs and throwing the mirrors out of the win- 
dows. 

March, 1907, on a Friday morning at eight o'clock, the 
second Globe Hotel, a large, square, three-story building, 
painted white, was burned on the same site. At this time 
it was owned by Wallace McFarlan, who occupied it as a 
dwelling house. It was built by J. A. Colby, who in 1856 
was still the proprietor. Upon the opening of the hotel 
a grand ball was given. One hundred and twenty tickets 
were sold at "twenty shillings" each. In 1859. W. C. Gray 
kept the house. Other landlords were Smith & Boyd, James 
Relya, Arlington Chadwick, Calvin Scott, George Bresler, 
E. C. Hardy, H. C. Chase, James Cook, Adelbert ("Doc") 
Baker, James Dooley and Benjamin Baldwin, Jr. 

In the spring of 1864, the bakery of Tousley & Cham- 

505 



Fires 

beiiaiii, manufacturers of crackers and stick candy, and 
the old Methodist Church, which had been moved to make 
room for the present Methodist Church, were burned in the 
night. These buildings were on the south side of Main 
Street, below the Academy. 

In 1875, where the store of J. G. James & Son now 
stands, was the dry goods store of William E. Kyes, the 
second floor of which was occupied by "Billy" Aiken, a 
tailor. This building, once the Union store, was moved 
there in 1864 by Wolcott Griffin, from the corner now 
owned by S. E. Taylor & Son. Just east of this store was 
the Holden grocery, west was the harness shop of Harry 
Howe and the postoffice, in the rear of which was the law 
office of C. W. Woodworth. The next building was used 
by Mrs. Woodworth as a millinery store. West of this was 
a dwelling house owned by John Holmes. All of these 
buildings were burned July 9, 1875. 

December 20, 1883, on the south side of Main Street 
between the Academy and C. W. Woodworth's, now R. B. 
Laning's, occurred the most disastrous fire that ever vis- 
ited Rushford. A defective stovepipe in the dental office 
of Dr. Peters was supposed to be the cause of the fire. 
The buildings burned were a billiard saloon owned by Alfred 
Green ; the blacksmith shop of Chauncey McDonald ; a large 
building owned by Ida M. Leavens, on the first floor of 
which was the hardware store of W. W. Merrill, and on 
the second floor the printing office of Frank B. Smith, ed- 
itor of The Spectator; a building owned by Mrs. M. Antoi- 
nette Stacy and Nathaniel Jewell, the lower part of which 
was occupied by Pratt & Colburn, dry goods, and F. E. 
white, groceries and clothing, and the upper floor, above 
the dry goods store, by Erna Wier and Josie Butts, dress- 
makers ; and a fine wooden structure owned by C. W. Wood- 

^06 



Clothing Rooms and Post Office, 1859 

John A. Hubbell, the tailor, stands in his doorway; on the 
porch, at the left is Amelia Cooley, a tailoress; next is Mary 
Green, the postmistress; standing at the right of the pillar is 
Eleanor Blanchard, a tailoress; and on the walk, with a linen 
coat on and his dog Curly near, is "Colonel" Hardy, the post- 
master. The building with the sign Post Office was once the 
home of Dr. Wm. Smith; in after years it was used by Charles 
W. Woodworth as a Post Office. In the house with the lattice work. 
Smith Fuller once made hats and caps; later, the front part was 
used by Mrs. Woodworth as a millinery store. 



S08 



Fires 

worth, in which were a law office, postoffice, town hall and 
the millinery store of Mrs. C. W. Woodworth. About $30,- 
000 worth of property was destroyed at this time. 

Early one Sunday morning in June, 1904, west of the 
Academy, the meat market owned by F. A. Jagers and oc- 
cupied by Clarence Smith ; the store of Elmer A. Gere, on the 
second floor of which were the living rooms of Clarence 
Smith ; and the harness shop of ^lyron Claus were quickly 
burned. A part of this ground had been burned over three 
times. "Allie Smith out on the Academy lawn calling for 
some one to bring him some pants seems rather funny now, 
but it didn't about one o'clock Sunday morning." 

April 15, 1885, at 2:30 in the morning, on the north 
side of lower Main Street, a fire was discoverd on the second 
floor of the furniture and undertaking rooms of S. Root. It 
had made such headway that it was impossible to stop it. 
All the buildings from the residence of A. Howser (now 
W. H. Thomas's) to the corner of Main and Bufifalo Streets 
were burned. The buildings destroyed were the blacksmith 
shop of A. Howser ; a small building occupied by A. Peters, 
dentist; the Mason Block in which were an empty store, the 
barber shops of A. Ray and A. Edson and, on the second 
floor, the living rooms of A. Ray; the cabinet shop of S. 
Root; and the Lathrop Block in which were the harness 
shop of Myron Claus and, on the second floor, the shoe 
shop of Robert Murray. About $10,000 worth of property 
was destroyed. 

January 23, 1886, at 10:30 p. m., a fire broke out in the 
hardware store of C. D. Shaw, on the corner of West Main 
and Lower Streets. It was discovered by Myron Claus, who, 
with his family, was returning home from DeWitt Mc- 
Donald's where they had been spending the evening. Mr. 
Shaw and his family, who occupied the second floor as liv- 

509 



Fires 

ing rooms, had barely time to dress and escape. The build- 
ing was owned by O. T. Higgins. Mr. Shaw, who came 
from Wellsburg, New York, had been in business in Rush- 
ford less than a year. The following Monday afternoon 
there met at the residence of A. M. Taylor seventy women, 
bringing goods to be made up, and garments and bedding 
for the afflicted family. 

The same evening a meeting was called for the pur- 
pose of obtaining fire protection. C. W. Woodworth was 
chosen president, and W. H. Benson secretary. Three hun- 
dred dollars was subscribed at the meeting. Later two fire 
engines, the C. J. Elmer and the Rushford, were purchased. 

In 1887 the first frame barn in town, built by Eneas 
Gary, was struck by lightning and burned. 



510 



XVII 
ASHERIES 

H. J. W. G. 

A large portion of the land of the early settlers had to be 
cleared for agricultural purposes; and as there was 
no market for lumber, the log heaps were burned and the 
ashes carefully saved and sold. It was the ashes that paid 
the taxes. 

B, T. Hapgood built one of the first asheries in Rush- 
ford ; indeed they were likely to be owned by merchants who 
would send from their stores men with wagons, each con- 
taining a tin trunk filled with goods, to be exchanged for 
the ashes of the farmers. O. T. Higgins bought ten acres of 
the Charles Hapgood farm to cut off the timber and burn it 
for the ashes. 

The following is the location of asheries which at some 
time were in Rushford: One, on the Emerson Kendall 
farm; two, on the Creek road, one (owned by O. T. Hig- 
gins), near the site of the cider mill at the outskirts of the 
village, the other near the creek, on land now owned by 
J. G. Benjamin; one, near West Main Street bridge, back 
of the store of Nelson McCall, later both store and ashery 
were owned by O. T. Higgins ; one, on Lower Street below 
the present Baptist parsonage, owned by Chase & Gilman, 
later owned by David Chase* who lived on the knoll back 
of F. E. White's, an old well is all that remains of this 
ashery ; one, in the hollow north of the barns now owned 
by Mrs. Alice Gordon Hooker, it belonged to John Gordon ; 
two, on the road from Upper Street to Gordonville, north 

*Father of Horace Chase. 
511 



Asheries 

of the creek, on land now owned by W. K. Baldwin, they 
belonged to Orville Boardman ; one, on the Caneadea road, 
west of the bridge, on land now owned by Mrs. John 
Walker, it belonged to Judge McCall ; one, on the farm now 
owned by W. Armstrong, it was below the house and on 
the same side of the road ; and one on the farm now owned 
by Stephen Wilmot. 

An ashery was a building where ashes were converted 
into black salts or potash or pearlash. Along the sides of 
the building were doors ; in the interior on each side, was 
a row of funnel bins or leeches into which the man on the 
outside with his load, shoveled his ashes. After water was 
poured into the leeches, lye ran out into inclined troughs. 
Through the center of the ashery was a row of kettles 
where the lye was boiled down into black salts. After cool- 
ing the salts were of the consistency of heavy maple wax. 

To make potash, the black salts were put into another 
kettle and heated until salts and kettle were red hot, when 
the red hot mass was dipped with a red hot dipper into an- 
other kettle where it stood until cold ; then it was called 
potash. It was very hard, gray on the outside but of a 
beautiful peach-blow color on the inside. The potash was 
broken up, barreled and shipped, bringing about one hun- 
dred and forty dollars a ton. Mr. Boardman had a pearl 
oven. Pearlash, white and fine, was made from black salts 
by burning, dissolving in water, boiling and burning again. 

Making potash is to Rushford one of the lost arts, 
the nearest approach is the occasional making of soft soap. 
This is seldom used figuratively by the real Rushford type. 
There were in Rushford two men by the same name, one 
worked in an ashery. hence, to distinguish him, he was 
called "Potash Bill." Chauncey Williams is probably the 
only man in town who has worked in an ashery. 

512 



XVIII 

THE STORM OF 1838 
Carrie Belknap 

IN the summer of 1838 a terrible storm visited the town 
of Rushford. Rain fell in torrents, trees were up- 
rooted, and one house on Rush Creek occupied by John Bos- 
worth, whose wife, Maria Belknap, was the daughter of one 
of the earliest settlers, was completely demolished. 

Mr. Bosworth had gone to the village blacksmith shop, 
leaving his wife and two children alone. He little thought, 
as he bade them good-by, that his home was so soon to be 
wrecked. Upon reaching town he noticed a dark cloud 
rapidly coming up, but did think it near enough to damage 
his home, until his brother-in-law, A. Belknap, appeared 
on his other horse, telling him to hurry home, that his 
house was blown to pieces. As fast as possible he did so, 
and sure enough the little home was a complete wreck and 
one child, a little girl about two years old, dead, buried 
under the ruins of the great fireplace chimney. A neighbor, 
by the name of Waterbury, lifted unaided the mantelpiece 
that partly covered her. The next day he could not move 
it an inch. Mrs. Bosworth with the other child, a baby of 
six months, was at the door, and so escaped death, but she 
received injuries that hastened her death a few years later. 
The baby, Nancy, escaped and is still living, hale and hearty,. 
the wife of Norris Cleveland of Farmersville Center. 

The wind did some strange things ; a large grindstone 
was blown a long distance, and the flour barrel, kept up- 
stairs, was blown to pieces, the staves being found many 
miles away. The effects of this storm were seen many 
years after, where the wind mowed the trees, making a 
path through the heavy timber. 



XIX 
THE FLOOD OF 1864 

A CHAPTER OF THE FLOOD OF AUGUST 16 AND 

17, 1864 

(Related to Helen White Gilbert by Dr. O. T. Stacy.) 

IT commenced to rain at six o'clock in the afternoon and 
continued to rain in torrents through the night. About 
eleven o'clock William E. Kyes aiid Dr. Stacy were on 
their way home from the drug store which they had re- 
cently purchased. As they crossed the foot-bridge on 
Lower Street they observed that the water in the creek 
reached the top of the banks. Dr. Stacy lived in the house 
now owned by Mrs. W. H. Leavens. It then stood on the 
east side of Lower Street just south of the house belong- 
ing to the Masons. The Mason house was then owned by 
Mrs. Helen Laning; north of it was the Methodist parson- 
age occupied by the Rev. John McEuen. The next house 
but one beyond the parsonage was the home of Mrs. B. M. 
Gilley, a widow, sister of Columbus Ely. 

Dr. and Mrs. Stacy were awakened in the night by a 
loud noise ; going to the door they saw a wall of water three 
feet high moving toward their house. The shade trees 
and the fence were as straws in its path. The water com- 
menced coming in at the windows, so they took up their car- 
pets and fled to the chambers. The water kept rising until 
't was five feet high. The lower part of the town was a 

514 



The Flood of 1864 

lake covered with flood wood. All that night the logs and 
trees were beating against the house. A loud roaring was 
heard, first on the north, later on the south side of the 
house. They saw O. T. Higgins' front door with a window 
above and each side coming toward them. There was a 
strange light that night, and although there was a down- 
pour of rain they could plainly see the people standing on 
the corner now owned by Howard Wood. The Rev. John 
McEuen was out on his porch swinging his lantern and 
calling for help. Dr. Stacy shouted to him, "You're not in 
danger. Don't you see that barricade in front of your 
house?" The logs had piled up against the large shade 
trees before the personage and Mrs. Laning's house, afford- 
ing them protection and dividing the current, one current 
going north, the other south of their houses. 

Mrs. Gilley was in her chamber praying, when J. C. 
Nobles with staff in hand waded toward her house. He 
rescued her by carrying her through the water on his back. 
In a short time he returned to rescue some of her posses- 
sions, but the house was gone. Since Dr. and Mrs. Stacy 
were thought to be in danger, Mr. Avery Washburn started 
for the Gordonville mill to get a cable, but finding the factory 
warehouse threatened, he stopped to help throw out the 
large quantity of wool there stored. In the meantime Mr. 
Nobles and DeWitt McDonald had waded to the house, and 
Mr. Nobles and the doctor had carried Mrs. Stacy to a 
safe place. 

The morning revealed strange things. The upright 
part of Dr. Stacy's house was nearly undermined, and the 
clapboards were torn off for four or five feet from the 
ground ; the well and the cistern were gone ; near the wing 
was a deep hole and into this the doctor's office had tipped ; 
back of the house lay a large tree three feet in diameter; 

515 



in 



The Flood of 1864 

front of the house was another tree as large as one 
could girdle with his arms; in the back yard, covered by 
a foot of earth, was the parlor carpet of Mrs. Higgins. 
That portion of the town would not have been recognized. 
It was a scene of desolation. 

The next day, going to visit a patient in Freedom the 
doctor found the road obliterated and the bridges gone. If 
Titans had pulled up all the trees in Delzell Hill's sugar 
bush and scattered them it could not have been worse. He 
met Jacob VanDusen and his wife coming from Sandusky. 
Mr. VanDusen said, "You can't get through ; I have broken 
my reach," but he went on, visited his patient and returned 
home in the night in safety, thanks to his trusty and in- 
telligent horse. 

Israel Thompson's barn containing a dairy of fifteen 
cows stanchioned was carried down the stream; although 
the stanchions went to pieces, only one cow perished. 

A woman living in East Rushford, whose husband was 
connected with the sash and blind factory, wished to move 
to a larger place, so when their house was carried off by the 
flood, she remarked that she thought it was a Godsend. 
When Samuel Bellows of East Rushford saw that his house 
was moving, he climbed into a tree in an orchard near by. 
The tree commenced to move, so he swung himself into 
another tree where he remained till morning. He after- 
wards remarked that when that tree commenced to move 
he thought it was a "God-sender." 

Several floods have visited Rushford, but no other has 
caused so great devastation as that of '64. 



516 



XX 

RAILROADS 

OUR LOST T. V. & C. R. R. 
H. J. W. G. 

THE Tonawanda Valley and Cuba Railroad was com- 
pleted in September, 1882. Its gauge was narrow and 
its life was short, but it made Rushford boom. In 1883 
were built the residences of Nathaniel Jewell (now owned 
by Martin Lyon), William O. Kingsbury and Van Rens- 
selaer Jenks,* and in 1884, the Brick Block, the stores of 
A. M. Taylor and W. W. Merrill, the mill and tenant houses 
of J. B. Gordon and Son, the Hardy House, and the resi- 
dences of E. C. Gilbert, H. A. Holden, C. C. Colburn, H. 
C. Dresser and Charles Gordon. Passengers could leave 
Rushford in the morning for Attica, take a train for either 
Buffalo or Rochester, and after spending a day in the city, 
reach home by ten o'clock at night. Another train left 
Rushford in the morning for Cuba where it connected 
with trains either way on the Erie, and returned after their 
arrival. 

The town raised $18,000 for bonds, $1,200 for right of 
way where it had to be bought, and built the round house. 
Nearly all the bonds owned by Rushford men were sold in 
December, 1885, at twenty-four and one-half cents on a 
dollar. Two strikes for back pay occurred in 1885, one in 
January and one in November. October 16, 1886, trains 
were discontinued south of Sandusky. 

The only fatal accident in Rushford due to the T. V. 

*The property of the late V. R. Jenks is now owned by 
Lorenzo D. Sweatland. 

S17 



Railroads 

& C. R. R. was the death of Mr. Kelley, which was caused 
by the trains running into a washout north of Hardy's. 
Fred G. Gordon's hand was injured at this time. 

The marriages of C. J. Hardaway and Mrs. Delia Hyde 
Robbins, William Lewis and Mary Glaus, George Briggs 
and Ora Gates, took place in consequence of the coming of 
the T. V. The family of James Brady, a bridge carpenter, 
continued to reside in town. 

When the track was laid there was great rejoicing, but 
the grade is all that now remains of the Tonawanda Valley 
and Cuba Railroad. 



THE RAILROAD 

ONCE there was a little town, 
Round here about, 
That for a railroad's coming 
Has been watching out. 

They dreamed of it by night 

And talked of it by day 
Until it seemed the outside world 
Was not so far away. 

And oftentimes in fancy ■ 
With what ecstatic thrills, 

They heard the engine's whistle 
Re-echoing o'er their hills. 



Note. — These lines were written by Mrs. Liicretia Elmer Morse, 
and were read by her liefore the Cynthia Club in 1903. The rail- 
road referred to is the Buffalo & Susquehanna. 

518 



The Railroad 

And wlicn they saw the surveyors, 

At least a half a score, 
Meander forth each morning 

To traipse the landscape o'er. 

And heard the talk and parley 

About a proper grade, 
It really seemed that they could see 

The very roadbed made. 

They heard of tunnels through the hill. 

The wondrous bridge the gorge had spanned. 

And of the countless millions 
The projectors could command. 

And with the world's progressive thousands 

They felt that they were kin, 
That after years of isolation 

They, at last, were in the swim. 

O the peak of exultation 

That they climbed up upon, 
And then the direful tumble 

To tiie valley of despond, 

For to cloud this brilliant noonday, 

A rumor came about, 
That this great commercial highway 

Had gone another route. 

And of that fond delusion 

There remains to be seen 
But a few small stakes and footprints 

To tell what might have been. 

519 



The Railroad 

And now they question whether 
The days of anxious doubt, 

And all the fuss and feather, 
Has paid for watching out. 



530 



XXI 

MISCELLANEOUS 

H. J. W. G. 
BLAZED TREES 

IF one wished to make a road through the woods between 
two settlements, one of which was south from the 
other, with an ax he would chip the bark off a tree, mak- 
ing one mark on the north and one on the south side, then 
he would look ahead to a tree easily seen, in the direction 
he wished to go, and mark this tree in a similar manner. 
The process was repeated until he reached the desired place. 



Mrs. Nancy Woods said an Indian would sometimes 
come to their house and with blanket on, would stand be- 
fore the window with outstretched arms, darkening the 
room, until they went to the door and let him in. 



When Oliver Benjamin was a boy, he would go after 
the cows, holding before and behind him a lighted chip 
to keep the wolves away. 



Mr. H. B. Ackerly said that when he was a boy, people 
had to pay the postage on a letter before they could take it 
from the office, that sometimes his father, William Ackerly, 
waited weeks before he would have the sixpence to get the 
letter. 



Farmers that had pine lands cleared them with diffi- 
<:ulty as green pine is very hard to burn. 



521 



Miscellaneous 

The wooden flutter wheel was used in the first saw- 
mills; it was placed on the outside of the mill; the water 
passing through the flume and striking the buckets on the 
wheel, caused it to revolve. 



Before railroads were built, cattle were driven to New 
Jersey to market. 



Reminder of General Training, 
State of New York. 
To Mr. Oscar T. Board, Greeting: 

You having been elected a Corporal of a Company 
under the command of H. N. Hammond in the 230th Regi- 
ment, 52nd Brigade, and 25th Division of Infantry of the 
Militia of the State of New York: — I do therefore, in pur- 
suance of the statute in such case made and provided. Grant 
you this warrant. You are to obey the orders which you 
shall from time to time receive from your superior officers, 
and to discharge the duty of Corporal in said company, 
with fidelity, according to the laws and regulations estab- 
lished for the government and discipline of the Militia of 
this State. 

Given under my hand, at Rushford this 28th day of 
August, A. D. 1839. 

J. B. Gordon, Colonel. 



Things made at East Rushford in the forties : Flour, 
lumber, shingles, sash, blinds, yokes, wagons, carriages, 
sleighs, buckets, pails, cane-seat chairs, flag-bottom chairs, 
rocking-chairs, wash-stands, light stands, parlor tables, din- 
ing tables, bureaus, bedsteads, lounges, bookcases, melo- 
deons, cofiins, linseed oil, oil meal, boots, shoes, leather, 
iron castings and mill irons. One could have his rifle re- 



522 



Miscellaneous 

paired, his horses and oxen shod, and while waiting could 
buy his dinner at the East Rushford Cottage— H. M. Sher- 
win, proprietor. 



INVENTIONS 

Myron Claus — Hip-strap fastener for a harness. 

DeWitt McDonald— Hay fork and wagon jack 

Adoniram Colburn — Straw cutter. 

Frank L. Taylor — Machine for winding and measur- 
ing lace and ribbon. 

Dr. W. Bush — An automatic arrangement for opening 
the draft of a stove at a certain hour. 



Alfred Wier, a cabinet maker, was one of the finest 
mechanics Rushford ever had. 

E. P. Lyon made in all three thousand dollars worth 
of axe helves. They were taken by the load to other towns 
and exchanged for money or goods. 

The biggest business transaction that ever took place 
in the town of Rushford was the transfer of timber land 
in five different states to the value of $40,000 from O. T. 
Higgins to A. J. and H. B. Ackerly. C. W. Woodworth 
drew up the papers. 



The words in the second column show the early pro- 
nounciation of the words in the first column. 



Tarbell 


Tar'-ble 


Damon 


Dem'-on 


Metcalf 


Med'-kii¥ 


Heald 


Hale 


Gillette 


Gil'-lett 


Morse 


Moss 



523 



] 


Miscellaneous 


Kendall 


Kin'-dle 


Caneadea 


Can-a-dear' or Can-dear 


Searl 


Cearls 


Youngs 


Young 


ent ways of 


spelling some proper names : 


Bennet 


Bennett 


Gillman 


Oilman 


Banister 


Bannister 


Garey 


Gary, Geary, Gearey 


Howser 


Hauser 


Doland 


Dolan 


Osborne 


Osborn 


M'Euen 


McEwen 


Washburne 


Washburn 


Searl 


Searle 



When Martin Lyon was a small boy, he attended 
school in a building just east of the Methodist Chapel. 
At one time his conduct was not all it might have been, 
so for punishment he was put into the wood box. He was 
consoled, however, when "Lute" Gordon handed him rem- 
nants of tallow candles to eat, for he liked candles better 
than he did candy. The school house was sometimes 
used evenings for singing school. Wilson Gordon says 
that Huldah Kinney was a teacher in this school house, 
later Solon Nichols and wife taught; he did the "licking" 
and she did the teaching. In 1840 the building was torn 
down. 



Angelica is the only town of Allegany County in 
which slaves have been held; but in Rushford there have 



524 



Miscellaneous 

been traces of witchcraft. Among the settlers of the first 
twenty years was a woman who thought because her but- 
ter did not come that her cream was bewitched ; so she 
put a red-hot horse shoe into it. A spot shaped like a 
horse-shoe appeared on the body of another woman in the 
neighborhood. 



During the winter of 1840-41, Mr. Avery Washburn 
taught the school in the little red school house under the 
hill in the east district. ^Ir. Washburn kept on the stove 
an iron basin of water to moisten the air in the room. A 
number of the pupils carried their dinner to school, and 
during the noon hour while Mr. Washburn was away, 
of the remnants of the various dinners, a pudding was 
concocted in the basin on the stove. When the teacher 
returned the pudding was piping hot, and the pupils were 
in their seats intent upon their lessons. Mr. Washburn 
said, "The one who made that pudding will please re- 
move it from the stove." No one started, though there 
were knowing glances cast about the room. The com- 
mand was repeated, then a tall girl with blushing face 
came forward, took the basin to the door, emptied the 
pudding and replaced the basin. The girl's name was 
Emeline Lyon. Nothing more was said and no more 
puddings were made that winter. 



For a number of years there was something of a 
sectional spirit in the village; the two parts of which were 
spoken of as Upper Street and Lower Street, between 
which it was not closely built up. This spirit extended 
to the children, and was especially manifest among the 
boys during the snowballing season. One lady relates 
that while attending a party when a child, a discussion 

52s 



Miscellaneous 

arose as to the comparative merits of Upper and Lower 
Streets and she became so offended that she went home 
without her supper. She was an "Upper Streeter." The 
building of the Academy and later the consolidation of 
the district schools, did away with what was never very 
serious. 

For a period Lower Street boasted of a temperance 
hotel. Upper Street never made such a boast. Once 
when one who had imbibed freely was not able to stand 
up under her load, a woman on Upper Street called out 
to the landlord, "George, your sign's fell down." 

In the forties there was given to the public a list of 
questions and answers which caused some excitement. The 
following are a few of the questions : 

"Who grinds the face of the poor?" 

"Who is the biggest liar in town?" 

"Who has to stand on his head to have his clothes 
brushed?" (The tailor had made Philetus Gratton's 
clothes so that the nap ran the wrong way.) 

"Who lives in Hell upon earth?" 

The man who was called the biggest liar in town was 
angry, so he went to the man said to live in "Hell upon 
earth" and told him there ought to be something done 
about it ; then, to stir him up, he said, "See what they 
said about you!" "What's the use of doing anything," was 
the moderate answer, "when every word of it is God's 
truth ?" 



Questions were asked Wilson L. Gordon with regard 
to the time when he was young. Mr. Gordon was born 
in Rushford in 1828. The following are his answers: 

"The best educated woman in town was Aurora 
Thompson." (Mrs. Green of New York.) 

526 



Miscellaneous 

"The best writer on general subjects was Lucretia 
Elmer." (Mrs. Asa G. Morse.) 

"The prettiest girl ever raised in Rushford was Cor- 
nelia Oilman." (Mrs. Green of Glean.) 

"The most thorough church worker was Mrs. James 
McCall." 

"The best male singer was Hollister Chapin." 

"The best female singer was Marshie Remington. In 
1856 she married W. L. Gordon, that is myself." 

One of the Grififins who came to Rushford was a lit- 
tle peculiar, unlike the other members of the family, and 
some one, knowing his name was Griffin, asked "Uncle 
Joel" if he were his brother. "Yes," said he, but quickly 
added, "He's Oramel's brother too." This reply became 
one of the proverbs of the town. 



Kirke White was constable and collector in Rushford 
March 4. 1861-1874, with the exception of two years. 
About the time of his first election, the law taxing dogs 
was so changed that if the owner refused to pay his tax 
then the dog must be killed. The law was not taken 
seriously at first, but was treated as a -joke. "Billie," who 
kept a billiard saloon in the Searl building on Upper 
Street, refused to pay his dog tax. Oliver Colburn and 
Wesley Gordon joined with him to hide the dog and tor- 
ment Kirke. who was kept going here and there to find 
the dog. Finally Martin Lyon and Martin Damon thought 
the joke had been carried far enough, so they sat down and 
wrote to Kirke, telling him that the dog was in Gordon's 
gristmill. The next morning Kirke reached the mill before 
Wesley and secured the dog. Just then Wesley appeared 
and he and Kirke had a tussel over the dog, during which 

527 



Miscellaneous 

Kirke said to him, "Don't you know you're resisting an 
officer of the law?" Finally Martin Lyon said, "Don't go 
too far, 'VVes,' you mustn't resist an officer of the law." 
Wesley then paid the tax and the collector departed in 
peace. 

There were many sad partings when the boys went 
off to the war. All who went were not so comforting as 
Dwight Scott. When he was going out to the road to ride 
with "the boys" to Cuba, his mother followed weeping. 
"Don't cry, mother," said Dwight, "I can kill as many of 
them as they can of me." Dwight Scott is living yet. 



At the time of the Greeley campaign quite a number 
of prominent Rush ford men joined the Liberal Republican 
party. A speaker was advertised and a large number gath- 
ered at the Academy Hall to hear him. The Democrats 
especially enjoyed the speech. On the platform behind the 
speaker were Tsaiah Lathrop, O. T. Higgins, Washington 
White, James Gordon and others. In the audience was Dr. 
Timothy Higgins, father of O. T. As the speaker held up 
to ridicule the shortcomings of the Republican party. Dr. 
Higgins, indignant, • got up and went out, saying, "He'd 
heard them lies as long as he should." The speaker re- 
marked, "The medicine is working." 



Gardner George, who was neighbor of Dr. O. T. Stacy, 
went to Dr. Stacy's house to borrow a wheelbarrow. On 
the side of the wheelbarrow were these words, "Stolen from 
O. T. Stacy." "It's too bad, Mr. George," said Mrs. Stacy, 
"for you to take that wheelbarrow with those words on it." 
"Never mind," said Mr. George, "I'll take a card and write 
the word by on it and tack it over from." 

528 



Miscellaneous 

Mrs. Aldiila Cole was a daughter of Leonard Farwell. 
who was an early settler on the Centerville road. When 
testifying at a revival meeting she said, "I'm glad salva- 
tion's free. Yon all know if it cost a cent I couldn't have 
it." Once Mrs. Cole went to E. C. Gilbert, justice of the 
peace, to tell him how she had received no pay for the 
washing and mending she had done for Morris Sexton 
and to ask him for a summons. "I worked for him as I 
would for my own son, when I wasn't any more fit to work^ 
Eddy Gilbert, than you are to preach." 



Owen Rush, an Irishman who worked about Rushford' 
in the sixties, in speaking of a man in the western part of 
the town, said, "He won't believe after he's convinced." 



When Louis B. Lane and William H. Benson were 
youngsters they had some disagreement which ended in a 
hand-to-hand combat. W^illiam, in whose veins ran blood 
of Erin's Isle, won. The next morning when Louis saw 
his antagonist coming down the street, he called out, "Good 
morning, 'William the Conqueror.' " 



Podunk was the name of a tribe of Indians in Con- 
necticut. The word means "a place of burning." When- 
the name was given to the east part of the town, Riley 
W^oods, because of the squatters in the eastern portion, said 
it ought to be called "Poordunk." Probably the debating 
club referred to in the Podonque Reminiscences simply 
changed the spelling. "There is a place over in Allegany 
County that the Rushford Spectator calls Podonque. We 
wonder if that isn't the old time, plain, every day leek cen- 
ter of forty years ago, known in 'them days' as Podunk?" — 
Danville Breeze. 

529 



Miscellaneous 

A cold winter remembered by Chester Perry and E. H. 
Frary was that of 1855-6. It commenced snowing Decem- 
ber 24th and did not thaw until April 2nd. The snow where 
undisturbed was five feet deep. Double teams could not 
be driven even on main roads. The mail carried from Rush- 
ford to Pike by way of Centerville was entirely suspended 
for a week or more at a time. One morning the mercury 
was solid in the glass. 

Near one of the burial grounds in Rushford is a swamp. 
Mary Pratt, one of the descendants of Calvin Leavens, said, 
"I don't want to be buried there ; I couldn't stand it to hear 
the frogs croak; I should get up and throw a tombstone 
at them." 



"How nearly alike the Alderman twins look," said 
Mrs. Sophia Gilbert ; "they look so nearly alike that when I 
visited the school the teacher pronounced a word to one of 
them and she missed it, then she pronounced it to the other 
and she missed it." 



In Romain Benjamin, Rushford has an orator whose 
characteristics are solemnity, distinct enunciation, brevity 
and humor. He is a grandson of Levi Benjamin who at one 
time was a deacon in the Baptist Church. When speaking 
Farmers' Day of Old Home Week, he referred to the time 
when children committed to memory passages of Scripture 
for their Sunday School lesson. His grandfather, pointing, 
would say to him, "Young man, have you learned them seven 
verses?" "No, sir." "Then go and stand in the chimney 
corner till you get 'em." 

There was once a gallery in the Baptist Church where 
this "young man" liked to sit with the boys. When he did 

530 



Miscellaneous 
not appear in the pew, his grandfather would rise and, 
looking up into the gallery, would say, "Young man, come 
down and set with your grandmother and grandfather." 
"These are the reasons," declared the speaker, "that I never 
became a Baptist." 

At the exercises held in the Academy Hall, February 
12, 1909, to commemorate Lincoln's birthday, our orator 
was the last of the four speakers who had seen Lincoln. His 
address was something like this : "I noticed that some of 
the speakers had memoranda ; before I left home, I said 
to my wife, 'Hadn't I better write something?' 'No,' she 
said, 'in your delicate condition you couldn't read it, if you 
did.' " Referring to Lincoln, he said, "When I looked upon 
that noble form, I made up my mind if I should ever be 
called to the presidency, I should follow in his footsteps. 
I've been waiting and listening and I ain't heard no call 
yet." Both times he brought down the house. 



"Captain Harry Calkins with his company of kids be- 
came inspired by the building of the B. & S. and built a 
railroad from the bridge on Lower Street to the shanty 
which is their club house. The rails are of wood, the track 
is well ballasted, and the car with its wooden wheels carries 
two adults or four children. It is down grade to the shanty 
and the lads push the car back. It is named the Bridge, 
Shanty and Indian Creek R. R. The round trip fare is one 
cent and the road is already doing quite a business. The 
officials are Grover Phelps, President; Will Calkins, Sec- 
retary and Treasurer; Harry Calkins, Chief Engineer; Jus- 
tin Macklin and Barton Tarbell, Section Men." 



The piles of stone industriously collected by our fathers 
are disappearing from the fields and wayside to be used in 
the building of the State road. 

531 



XXII 
PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS 

H. J. W. G. 

RUSHFORD has always excelled in home talent enter- 
tainments and Rushford people think no other quite 
so interesting. 

In "war time" an "Old Folks' Concert," under the 
leadership of Norman Beecher, was given in the Methodist 
Church. On this occasion Mrs. George Lyon most beau- 
tifully sang "Comin' thro' the Rye;" but it was afterwards 
whispered that the singing was altogether too theatrical for 
a minister's wife. 

When J. E. Mclntyre was principal of Rushford Acad- 
emy, exercises were held in the afternoon to which the pub- 
lic was invited. Lottie Mclntyre dressed in white, with a 
flower in her hair, sang "We'll hang Jeff Davis to a sour ap- 
ple tree;" and Clara Higgins recited Drake's "American 
Flag." 

There have been school exhibitions galore, but the en- 
thusiasm was unusual when the school was divided into two 
parts with W. H. Acker as one leader and Lewis Ely the 
other. W. H. Acker robbed his mother's parlor of its fur- 
niture to beautify the stage, the evening his side was to 
appear. When Lewis Ely's side took part, a song was sung 
by four young men, each representing a different nationality 
in costume, manner, and speech. Frank Higgins, the Eng- 
lishman, sang of Britannia; Willis Leavens, the Irishman, 
sang of Auld Ireland ; Charles Persons, the Dutchman, sang 
of the Fatherland ; Lewis Ely, the Yankee, sang of Colum- 

532 



An Old Folks' Concert 

bia. Each keeping his pecuHar form of speech, they aU 
joined in the chorus "America, America," etc. The effect 
was fine. 

At a later period Mrs. Jarley's Wax Works, represented 
by boys and girls, made an effective tableau. Some of the 
figures were grotesque, others interesting, but Cupid with 
snow-white wings, prepared by Mrs. C. H. Norris, was 
loveliest of all. 

The first drill upon the stage of the Rushford Union 
Graded School was about 1879, when six girls and six boys, 
all dressed in light blue costumes trimmed with white, to 
music marched upon the stage, in serpentine form, to their 
respective places. The girls, in front, went through with a 
series of movements in light gymnastics, then in regular 
order they took their places in the background while the 
boys marched to the front and with dumbbells went through 
with their exercises; after which all marched from the 
stage. The music, the color, the regular movements, the 
novelty, made a delightful impression. Those who partici- 
pated were Elizabeth Charles, Bessie Gordon (Mrs. J. 
Monroe), Ora Gates (Mrs. Byron Woods), Lena Sill (Mrs. 
Werries). Grace Ileecher (Mrs. W. Croop), Jennie Thomas 
(Mrs. Verner Taylor), Grant Woods, William Stone, 
Charles Benjamin, Lucian Benjamin, Fred Hardy and Leon 
Brooks. Jessie Cook (Mrs. C. M. Tarbell) played the 
organ. 

AN OLD FOLKS' CONCERT 

The programs were printed on brown paper. The con- 
cert was under the direction of Mrs. C. W. Woodworth and 
Milton M. Woods. The singing master was "ye venerable" 
Milton M. Woods and the "organers" were Carrie Bixby 
and Clara Glaus. The first in order of entertainment was 

533 



Public Entertainments 

the marching of the singers through the hall, some of whom 
were hardly recognized in their old-fashioned dress. 
This was the announcement: 

Create Singing Meeting 

to be held in 

Rushford Towne 

at ye 

District School House 

which is set down on ye streete named Maine, nigh about 

ye middle way, on ye right-hand side as ye be going up and 

on ye contrary side as ye be coming down ye same, 

Friday Night 

at early candle light, 

ye same being ye 

XVI of ye Mo. of September MDCCCXCII. 

Ye Rige Doore 

will be unbarred about sun-downe and ye sounding of ye 

music will begin at 8 off ye time beater's watch. 

A number of songs, among which were "New Jerusalem," 
"Yankee Doodle" and "Strike the Cymbal," were sung by 
"All ye Menne and Women Singers." "Auld Lang Syne," 
sung by Mrs. Almond Benjamin, Mrs. Maria Benjamin, 
Mrs. Roxana Kendall, Mrs. A. L. Adams, D. C. Woods, An- 
drew Kimball and M. M. Woods, was received with ap- 
plause, and they were presented with a basket of flowers. 
The youngest of these singers was sixty-one. 

"Grandma's Advice," sung by Genevieve Pratt was a 
happy choice. 

My grandma lives on yonder little green. 
Fine old lady as ever was seen. 
But she often cautions me with care 
Of all false young men to beware. 

534 



An Old Folks' Concert 

Chorus — 

Tim-e-i, tim-e-um-tum, 

Tim-e-um, pa, ta, 

Of all false young men to beware. 

The first came a courting was little Johnny Green, 
Fine young man as ever was seen. 
But the words of my grandma ran in my head 
So I could not hear one word he said. 

Chorus — 

The next came a courting was young Ellis Grove ; 
'Twas then we met with a joyous love. 
With a joyous love I couldn't be afraid 
You'd better get married than die an old maid. 

Chorus — 

Thinks I to myself there has been some mistake. 
What a fuss these old folks make! 
If the boys and the girls had all been so afraid, 
Then grandma herself would have died an old maid. 

Chorus — 

S. E. Wilmot, G. C. Woods, D. W. Woods and C. C 
Colburn sang that enlivening quartet, "The Yankee Sleigh- 
Ride." 

"Come, Mirabella Hopkins, hie away 

For Jonathan is waiting in a sleigh. 

And Mary Phoebe Ann and Susan Jane, 

535 



Public Entertainments 

And Anna Bella Jones and Jotham Lane 

Will join us with a singing 

While ting-a-ling-a-ling-ling go the bells, 

The time is swiftly winging, 

As merrily the music swells." 

The simple and charming Quaker love song, "Dost Thou 
I^ove Me, Sister Ruth?" was sung responsively by Mary 
Thomas and Stephen Wilmot, who were dressed in Quaker 
costume ; Mrs. F. G. Gordon rendered a lullaby ; Lucian 
Benjamin, Grant C. Woods, D. W. Woods and Minnie Sars- 
field (Mrs. Newman H. Woods) sang "Cousin Jedediah ;" 
and Milton M. Woods, with a voice of rare quality, sang 
"Within a Mile of Edinboro Town." 

Mrs. Philanda Brooks in her quaint costume, her com- 
plexion fresh as a girl's, her face lighted up with enjoy- 
ment, made a picture not easily forgotten. Many who at- 
tended the concert were in the recently repaired hall for 
the first time. After partaking of the hot cofifee and fried 
cakes in the "old kitchen" below, people returned to their 
homes, having passed a delightful evening. The concert was 
repeated Saturday evening and $125 in all was realized to- 
ward seating the hall. 

DEESTRIK SKULE 
February 22, 1895 

Names of those who took part (for the most part, mid- 
<lle-aged or elderly people) : 

Mister Ichabod Numskull (Teacher) E. C. Gilbert 

Grover Cleveland Wm. Beaumont 

John Tull W. H. Leavens 

Sally Dusenberry Mrs. H. J. Walter 

Little Bobbie Dusenberry (visitor) W. H. Benson 

536 



Deestrik Skule 

Jedediah Slim C. W. Croop 

Wm. McKinley Andrew Kimball 

Dinah Dingledine Mrs. C. O. Sayres 

Cynthia Jones Mrs. C. H. Ives 

Alfred Green W. W. Thomas 

Susan B. Anthony Mrs. W. S. Mulliken 

Adelaide Bragg (twin) Miss Mary Thomas 

Adeline Bragg (twin) Mrs. C. W. Croop 

Huckleberry Finn B. D. Kyes 

Morris Alby Wm. Ingleby 

Belva Lockwood Mrs. W. W. Thomas 

Walter Rose Alfred Davis 

Polly Perkins Mrs. E. C. Gilbert 

Nahum Nameless W. S. Mulliken 

Betsey Prigg Mrs. Alfred Davis 

Samantha Allen Mrs. W. W. Bush 

Tommy Bellows D. W. Woods 

Bridget McGinty Mrs. W. W. Merrill 

Thomas Piatt M. M. Woods 

Squire Kicker (Trustee) Paul Dowe 

Mrs. Kicker Mrs. Homer Brooks 

Deacon Wayback (Trustee) C. W. Ives 

Going to School. 

The schoolmaster in Mr. Talcott's white linen pants, 
his grandfather's vest, a blue and white checkered stock 
and a tall hat ; girls in short cotton dresses and sunbonnets, 
carrying dinner pails ; boys playing leap-frog ; and Sally 
Dusenberry drawing her little brother Bobbie in his wagon, 
made a pleasing scene. 

Forenoon. 

The schoolmaster was sitting in his chair having in 
one hand a book, in the other a gad which he had occasion 

537 



Public Entertainments 
to use freely. Scholars were studying without regard to 
their neighbors; paper wads were flying and various com- 
plaints were being made. Jedediah Slim came in late, bring- 
ing a cabbage for the teacher; going to present it, he fell 
flat upon the floor. Alfred Green and Morris Alby, black as 
the ace of spades, came to school wearing boots of great 
size, in the tops of which were playthings to amuse them- 
selves, and apples to devour behind large geographies. 
Studying they never thought of. 

There was snapping of fingers, then Sally Dusenberry 
said, "Teacher, please can I go out? It's necessary;" and 
Dinah Dingledine said, "Teacher, please can I pass the 
water?" When Dinah was passing it, Nahum Nameless gave 
the bottom of the cup a hit and the water flew in all direc- 
tions. 

Huckleberry Finn had a large wooden monkey that 
would run over a stick ; this he quickly shot up for the edi- 
fication of the school when the teacher's back was turned. 
Teacher and scholars walked about the room, each one un- 
conscious that he was decked with pieces of paper. On 
Samantha Allen's back was pinned "Weight 500 lbs." 

Meantime the classes were reciting. Grover Cleveland, 
William McKinley, Belva Lockwood, Susan B. Anthony 
and Thomas Piatt formed the infant class. When the gram- 
mar class were taking their places, Dinah Dingledine was 
told to move along; she moved and John Tull was pushed 
onto the floor. He got up in a rage, but was pacified by the 
teacher's giving him a chair. Walter Rose with his "Yes, 
sir; 'tis so. yes, sir," was in the class. The like of their 
parsing was never heard before or since. 

The geography class came next. Teacher— Where is the 
mouth of the Mississippi? 
Scholar — In its head. 

538 



Deestrik Skule 

The school commissioner, a young man by the name of 
Bluestone, was in the audience. 

Teacher— Give the productions of Western New York. 

Scholar— Horses, sheep, hogs, butter, cheese, potatoes, 
flagstone and Bluestone. 

Teacher — Huckleberry Finn, bound the town of Rush- 
ford. 

Huckleberry— Rush ford is bounded on the north by 
Centerville, on the east by Suckerville, on the south by Bell- 
ville, and on the west by snowbanks. 

Teacher — Tommy Bellows, name the animals. 

Tommy then distinguished himself by rattling off his 
long list of animals without a break, coming out strong on 
"anaconda, hare." 

Teacher — Alfred Green, where is Cleveland? 

Alfred Green (gruffly) — Gone fishing. 

The spelling class was next called. They took their 
places on the floor, toeing the mark. Poor Adeline Bragg, 
the tall twin, could not spell, so she was made to sit on a 
high stool and wear a dunce cap. Betsey Prigg could spell 
glibly and pronounce the syllables as C-o-n, Con, s-t-a-n, 
Stan, Con-Stan, t-i-, ti, Con-stan-ti, n-o, no, Con-stan-ti-no, 
p-l-e, pie, Con-stan-ti-no-ple. Morris spelled so that no one 
could recognize the word. The teacher would then say, 
"Next." When the next spelled the word correctly and 
went above Morris, he would invariably raise his hand, snap 
his fingers and say, "Teacher, that's just the way I spelled 
it." 

Noon. 

Eating dinner was a prominent feature of the noontime. 
One of the colored boys had a Johnny-cake for dinner. John 
Tull had a berry turnover which looked so tempting to Cyn- 

539 



Public Entertainments 

thia Jones that she said, "Let me have just a taste." John 
generously gave her a bite. Poor little Bobby Dusenberry 
cried, saying "I want a cooky, I want a cooky." Bridget 
McGinty wanted to kiss Bobbie, but he would not be kissed. 
After the dinner pails were put away "Ring around the 
rosy" and 'TSTeedle's Eye" were played. 

Afternoon. 

There was first an Address of Welcome by Dinah 
Dingledine, followed by a song by Tommy Bellows; then 
Grover Cleveland, after bowing with great gusto, recited 
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star." Polly Perkins, wearing a 
blue and white checked gingham dress with pantalets to 
match, and a ruffled pink calico apron, recited in a sing- 
song tone "On Linden when the sun was low." Walter 
Rose read a composition upon "The Cow." This was fol- 
lowed by a declamation, "The boy stood on the burning 
deck," by Jedediah Slim, whose bow equaled that of Grover 
Cleveland. The twins taking hold of hands sang "Chicka- 
dee." John Tull drew his crumpled composition upon the 
various kinds of pants, from a pocketful of strings, nails, 
fishooks and — what not? The school then sang the multi- 
plication table in concert with "Five times five are twenty- 
five," etc.," to the tune of "Yankee Doodle" for the chorus. 
After others had taken part, remarks were made by Squire 
Kicker and the teacher. The exercises closed by singing 
"America." 

Mrs. Kicker, who came with her husband to visit the 
school, wore a plaid silk dress of bright colors, a kerchief 
and a sky-scraper bonnet filled in at the top with artificial 
flowers. Her work she carried in a bead bag. During the 
exercises, as she sat busily engaged in knitting, her ball gave 
her much trouble by rolling onto the floor. 

540 



Deestrik Skule 

People who came to the "Deestrik Skule" with long 
faces went away with broad ones. It was largely original 
and was, perhaps, the funniest entertainment ever given in 
Rushford. It was repeated, and the proceeds of both eve- 
nings were used toward paying for the square piano, still 
in use in the Academy Hall. 

The entertainment was largely original, taking form 
during the hours of rehearsal. 

The Address of Eddy Clifton Gilbert, President of the 
Cosmopolitan University, to the graduating class of 1909. 
(The members of the class were Ellen Lyman, Jennie Woods 
Gordon, Julia Tarbell Merrill, Minnie Sarsfield Woods, 
Alice Goetz, Willis Hamilton Leavens,* Lester Sterner, Wil- 
liam Woods. W. W. Bush was President of the Board of 
Trustees. The entertainment was given at the Academy 
Hall, March 19. 1909. under the auspices of the Literary 
and Social Department of the Ep worth League. Com- 
mittee : Mrs. A. M. Tarbell, Mrs. William W. Bush, Mrs. 
Newman Woods.) 

I am glad to meet you on this suspicious occasion. I 
say, fearless of successful contradiction, that of all classes, 
upper, lower or middle, you are the most scrumptious of 
any I have ever had the honor of addressing. You are now 
to leave the classic halls of the great Cosmopolitan Uni- 
versity, whose protecting arms have been folded about you 
during your transitory period, and go out into a bad, bois- 
terous, buffeting, cold, carnal, deceitful, evil, fault-finding, 
indifferent, melancholy, proud, selfish, sour, surly, unreliable, 
unsympathetic, unprincipled, unhappy, cussed old world to 
travel alone, and if you make your marks, except with a 
pencil, while traveling through this vale of tears, you must 

*The place of Mr. Leavens was taken by Abram Pratt Benja- 



541 



Public Entertainments 

summon to your aid all the cheek and brass and sand ob- 
tainable. 

I do not expect you to be Theodore Roosevelts, you 
haven't the teeth ; or William Jennings Bryans, your mouths 
arn't big enough ; or Carrie Nations, especially you boys, 
or even to equal the venerable President of the Board of 
Trustees of the great Cosmopolitan University, he has a 
monopoly of all the snake stories, but you may all be able 
to ride in an automobile — that is, if the machine holds out 
and Editor Benjamin asks you. But 'midst all these trials 
keep our class motto in mind, "We are the stuff" — and we 
hope the world won't find you as green as you look. When 
Catherine Aragon founded this foundling hospital — er — I 
should say Cosmopolitan University, she meant to found a 
foundry to mold people for all the walks of life that wanted 
to be molded in her mold. It is not for me to say what 
walk of life you must walk in. I can only suggest. Doubt- 
less some of you would make good step-mothers — I allude 
more particularly to the female members of the class. Danc- 
ing masters have a lively time, and though the gossips work 
over-time, it seems to be a charming profession and is open 
to both sexes. In fact with your training you are able to 
walk on any walk, gravel, stone or cement, and in the lan- 
guage of our class motto, do not forget "We are the stufif." 
In the words of the immortal Shakespeare, 

Some men were born for great things. 
And some were born for small, 
And some, it has not been recorded 
Why they were born at all. 



542 



F 



XXIII 

MOVEMENTS 
Ellen Lyman 

MORMONS OR LATTER DAY SAINTS 

IRST in order of events comes the Mormon or Latter 
Day Saint movement under Joseph Smith the "Prophet 
of the Lord," the beginning of which occurred in 1830 and 
the ending no man can prophesy. 

The first regularly constituted church was organized at 
Manchester, New York, in April, 1830, and consisted of 
only six members of whom Joseph Smith was the chief; 
soon after, Sydney Rigdon and a man by the name of Pratt 
joined the ranks and were made elders, the first of whom, 
Rigdon, was famous as a powerful expounder of the faith 
and a successful proselyter. A few years ago there were 
many living in Rushford who could testify to his wonderful 
power. At the time of the death of Joseph Smith he claimed 
the right to the Mormon presidency, but he was defeated 
by Brigham Young and cut off from the church. 

For a time Rushford seemed to be a center of their 
activities ; meetings were held by Rigdon and others, in the 
schoolhouses and in many private dwelHngs; converts were 
numerous and many were baptized near the old schoolhouse* 
on the Creek Road. It was in that vicinity that the caval- 
cade formed when they started on their journey to Kirtland, 
Ohio. From Kirtland they went to Missouri, thence to 
Nauvoo, Illinois. One of our townsmen, Asa G. Morse, was 
in Nauvoo when they were sold out by the sheriff ; he says 

*The old schoolhouse stood on the south side of the road, 
near the bridge. 

543 



Movements 

" Tlicre were forty acres of land, on which were fifteen 
acres of line wheat, sold for fifteen dollars." 

About the time that this new doctrine began to be 
preached around Rushford, fashion decreed that the coats 
worn by gentlemen should have the sleeves fulled at the 
top; the resident minister of the Methodist Church had oc- 
casion to buy a new coat; since it had the fashionable 
sleeve to which many of the members objected, it caused 
some dissension in the church. The elders of the Mormon 
faith seized the opportunity. Among the many to whom 
the new doctrine strongly appealed were Eliza Ann Lyon 
(Mrs. O. Phelps) and Frazier Eaton, the first of whom, 
Mrs. Phelps, went as far as Nauvoo, but becoming dis- 
affected by the new departure, polygamy, she returned to 
Kirtland, renounced the faith and became a member of the 
Methodist Church. Mr. Eaton was a prosperous farmer, 
(owning and occupying the place west of the village now 
known as the Clark Woods farm), and a prominent mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church. He disposed of all his prop- 
erty and joined the numbers who gathered for their long 
journey. It was said that he converted all his means into 
silver dollars of which he had a peck. Not many years 
after, he returned poor in purse, broken in health and 
spirits and never seemed to regain his former thrift. 

There are none of the belief living in Rushford now, 
though there are some in the county. 

TEMPERANCE. 

Next in point of time comes the Temperance move- 
ment of 1840, and the enaction of prohibitory laws in- 
separably connected with the name of Neal Dow. 

It was during this year that the Washingtonian Society 

544 



spiritualism 

was formed and Rush ford contained many members, in 
fact, it has always, as a town, been allied with all tem- 
perance movements, such as the Sons of Temperance, the 
■ Good Templars, of which during the sixties there was a 
flourishing lodge, and now the Woman's Christian Tem- 
perance Union. The local union was instituted by Mrs. 
Rosina Damon Evans. Mrs. Harvey Alderman, of this 
village, was its first president. During the first years of 
its existence, it secured the services of Horace Bemis, of 
Hornellsville, a prominent jurist of Western New York, and 
none who heard him will ever forget his brilliant address 
flelivered in the IMethodist Church. Later, in 1887, P. A. 
Burdick, of Alfred, came and during his stay there occurred 
a great religious as well as temperance revival, for, as 
some remarked, "Temperance and religion should walk 
hand in hand, though same are not inclined to be religious 
in their temperance, nor temperate in their religion." 

SPIRITUALISM 

About the year 1852 or "53, a young girl about twelve 
years of age by the name of Cora L. V. Scott, whose mother, 
l^odensy, was a daughter of Oliver Butterfield, began speak- 
ing to small gatherings of .spiritualists in Cuba, Rushford 
and adjoining towns. Some years later she spoke in the 
Rushford Academ)'. when G. W. F. Buck was in charge, 
from the subject, "Correlation and Conservation of Force." 
She had no opportunity for preparation on this special 
theme, as the topic was given after her arrival at the hall. 
Those who had the pleasure of hearing her were greatly 
interested and considered the subject handled in an eloquent 
and logical manner. She is now Mrs. Cora L. V. Scott 
Richmond, of Chicago, where she has been speaking many 

545 



Movements 

years aiul where she is pastor of "The Church of the Soul." 
Every summer she speaks at Lily Dale, Chautauqua County. 

When Spiritualism is mentioned some think immediate- 
ly of the bloomers worn by some of the women, and the' 
long hair of some of the men, supposing these things were 
requirements; but this is a mistake. Many outside of that 
belief considered the short dress more convenient and sani- 
tary, but no such reason was ever given for the long hair. 

About fifty years ago, many Spiritualists in Rushford 
and Farmersville thought it best to unite and provide a 
permanent place for holding their meetings ; accordingly on 
what is known as the "Old Hubbard Place"* in Farmers- 
ville, a structure was built and used as a Spiritualist temple. 
It was in size, perhaps sixteen by thirty feet, and peculiar 
in that it had no windows and was entered by way of a trap 
door. A few years ago, there were many of our towns- 
people who had attended the meetings held there. 

REVIVALS 

In 1857-1858 occurred what was called the "Great 
Awakening." It did not depend so much upon any leader or 
preacher, however eloquent, and was far from being sec- 
tional or denominational, as it seemed to be the outgrowth 
of a need felt in common by the masses of the people who 
had just passed through the great financial tornado of 1857 
which swept over the land and gave weight to the truth 
that "the things which are seen are temporal, but the things 
which arc not seen are eternal." Old residents have said 
that though the town felt the financial depression keenly, 
the religious awakening was of incalculable benefit. 

About forty years ago, a company of men, old and 

*Now owned by C. G. Wiser. 
546 



Revivals 

young, called the "Praying Band," came into this county to 
hold meetings. The people of Rushford felt the necessity 
of a more general attention to religious matters, so they 
'were invited to come and hold a series of meetings. War- 
ren Damon, a prominent member of the Methodist Church, 
and W. H. Leavens, who was in the employ of Wolcott 
Griffin, went to Wiscoy, then Mixville, after them. The 
band consisted of eight or nine members of which Blakesley, 
Bolles, Corey and Father Hard are distinctly remembered. 
The meetings were successful, arousing the whole town, 
and many were the accessions to the churches. 

Later, in 1875-6, the waves of the great revival move- 
ment under Dwight L. Moody reached Rushford, awaken- 
ing many to the need of a consecrated life. 



547 



XXIV 
THE PRESS 

THE PRESS IN RUSH FORD 
Eddy C. Gilbert 

WHEN given this subject our first question was which 
press was meant — printing press, clothes press, 
cheese press or cider press, as all these have played their 
part in our history. 

In June, 1846, the first printing press was used in 
Rushford, when H. E. Purdy with the assistance of A. P. 
Laning founded the Republican Era. The terms were a 
dollar and a half a year if paid in advance, two dollars if 
paid within the year and twenty-five cents extra when de- 
livered at the door of village subscribers. In 1848 the 
price was reduced to one dollar — twenty-five cents extra if 
paid in produce. Previous to this the news must have been 
circulated by the dressmakers, the traveling shoemakers 
and the "setters" in the village stores. Democratic in poli- 
tics, the editorials of the Republican Era during the \'an 
Buren-Cass campaign of '48 furnished information similar 
to that of the city papers of the present. The news was 
mainly of a political nature. A call for a Democratic Coun- 
ty Convention to be held at Angelica is signed by A. P. 
Eaning as (jue of the committee — an honor his nephew has 
not yet attained. A crop report of August, 1847, which 
said that the oat crop was abundant, corn good and po- 
tatoes rotting badly, is all the local news in that issue. In 
another issue, the local news is confined to two items, one 
that the "abolitioners" commenced a kind of four day meet- 
nig in this place on Tuesday, and the other the marriage of 

548 



The Press in Rush ford 
Andrew Kimball and Maria Hardy. It was a county paper ; 
there were no seven column articles on base ball, no men- 
tion of Sunday visits at Fairview, or the reshingling of the 
oldest hog pen in Hardscrabble or any of the newsy locals 
from the school districts that make the modern newspaper. 
The marriage notices were in the old conventional form. 
Hence we know not who was there, what the presents were, 
or whether they were a worthy young couple and had 
hosts of friends. No birth notices — hence we conclude 
that there were no sweet little daughters born at that 
period. 

A. P. Laning, W. A. Stewart, D. W. Leavens, Grover 
Leaveps, G. L. Walker and George Bishop have cards as 
lawyers. The physicians mentioned were L. B. Johnson, 
W. McCall, H. H. Smith and James Ward, a botanic doc- 
tor. These men were all located in Rush ford in 1847. 

In general advertising there were James and Luther 
Gordon, who were called "the boys," The Empire Dry Goods 
Store; Irwin and Remington, The People's Store; J. D. 
Boardman ; L. R. Skaats, Marble Factory ; W. McCall and 
Company, Drugs and Books ; George and Doolittle, who 
called themselves "the little men," Variety Store ; Clark Mc- 
Call, Variety Store ; Miss E. Wing, Millinery ; H. Hyde, 
Jeweler ; S. Root, Chair Factory ; H. Dockstader and C. 
Smith, Tailors ; Israel Thompson, Carriage Making and 
Blacksmithing, he also continues the manufacture of axes 
and mechanic's edge tools; D. Dunham, Carriage and 
Wagon Manufactory ; B. F. Lewellen, Boots and Groceries ; 
S, and H. K. White, Iron Foundry, Castings of all descrip- 
tions, also Plows of the latest and most improved pattern ; 
N. McCall advertises eight dozen Scythes, six dozen Scythe 
Snaths, two and one-half dozen Forks and ten dozen Rakes. 
East Rush ford is represented by Haynes and Johnson. 

549 



The Press 

Wagon and Carriage Making; D. B. and J. A. Haynes, 
Cabinet and Chair Making; Place and Delano, Blacksmith- 
ing, Mill Irons a specialty ; G. Grimard, Grist and Flouring 
Mill; M. McCall, East Rushford Linseed Oil Mill; C. Mc- 
Donald, Blacksmith Shop — on Angelica Street six doors 
west of Crocker Street near the Hydraulics. David C. 
Smith gives notice that his wife Ruth has left his bed and 
board. All persons indebted to Chase and Gillman must 
call and settle immediately. We will give a portion of 
the advertisements of two men who but a few years ago 
were familiar figures on our streets. 

"A live Painter caught and tamed so as to be perfectly 
harmless and of great service to man. A. L. Adams will 
give his special attention to house painting on the Hook 
and Ladder Mop System or with the brush to suit em- 
ployers and for beauty and durability of workmanship he 
challenges competition. The Painter can be seen by calling 
at the first door east of Clark McCall's Store, Main Street, 
Rushford." 

'Tro Bono Publico! Peoples Emporium No. i Empire 
Block. N. A. Hume, after many years of patient toil, re- 
search and experience has at last discovered the all im- 
portant and long-lost secret which has been shrouded in 
oblivion since the days of the immortal Shakespeare, that 
'there is a cut in the clothes of men which taken at the 
making leads on to fashion,' and is now prepared to ex- 
hibit specimens of his taste in this long neglected and much 
abused art to the whole civilized world and more particular- 
ly to the inhabitants of Rushford and vicinity who may see 
fit to bestow upon him their patronage in the tailoring line. 
The anti(|uated and abused idea that it takes nine tailors 
to make a man is now exploded. The maxim more in ac- 
cordance with the advanced age in which we live is that 'a 

550 



The Press in Rushford 

Tailor who cannot make nine men is considered nnvvorthy 
to be classed among the fraternity of artists.' Tailoring 
in common with the sister arts,— Poetry, Painting and Sculp- 
ture — is too refined and ethereal in its nature to be appreci- 
ated by the mass of mankind. To ameliorate the condition 
of suffering humanity in general, he has opened for sale a 
choice and well-selected stock of Ready-made Clothing. 
Persons wishing to buy good clothing will find it to their 
interest to call and examine his stock before purchasing 
the out-of-style, second-hand, miserable and flimsy trash, 
generally kept in Clothing Stores." 

Patent medicine advertising occupied an entire page. 
There appeared The Infallible Bug Bane, Balsam of 
Naptha and Wau-a-hoo, Extract of Yellow Dock and Sar- 
saparilla, Indian Pulmonary Balsam and Vegetable Lithon- 
triptic, with the usual testimonials from Horace Greeley to 
Clark McCall. 

A notice was published in 1846 that an application 
would be made to the next legislature for an act to incor- 
porate the village of Rushford. In October, 1848, the Re- 
publican Era was removed to Angelica. 

The first copy of the Weekly Nezvs Letter was issued 
February 5, 1859, by H. H. Chapen, who was then only 
nineteen years of age. This issue contains the time card of 
the New York and Erie R. R. for Cuba, and the arrival 
and departure of mails from Rushford; daily mail from 
Cuba and Belvidere and three times a week from Arcade, 
Fillmore and Franklinville ; S. Hardy postmaster. 

The following advertisements are found in the Nezvs 
Letter of 1859: J. A. Hubbell, Draper and Tailor, who 
also advertises to do machine stitching and hemming; Globe 
Hotel, William C. Gray, proprietor; White and Blanchard, 
Iron Foundry; Rushford Academy of Music, J. Vickery, 

S5I 



Tlie Press 

Principal; W'oodwortli's Variety Store, Everything in the 
line of (iroceries and Provisions kept constantly on hand ; H. 
Howe, Dealer in Saddles, Harness, Trunks, Valises, etc. ; 
Mrs. II. R. Palmer invites the attention of the Ladies of 
Rush ford to her new assortment of Spring and Summer 
Millinery Goods; Tousley and Chamberlain, Manufacturers 
and Wholesale Dealers in Crackers, Candy and Cigars ; L. 
(i. Beecher is better than ever prepared (with a new lot of 
chemicals) to take pictures on glass, iron, leather or paper; 
(ialpin and Tubbs, successors to Merryfield and Galpin. 
Cabinet Ware and Chairs. They keep constantly on hand 
Coffins of all sizes at the following rates : — Large size Cherry 
Coffins, neatly trimmed $6.00; Pine, Large Size, $3.00; 
Small. $2.00; Black Walnut, $8.00. Having a new and ele- 
gant Hearse we will attend funerals at any distance within 
five miles free of charge. 

B. T. Roberts will hold a meeting in this village com- 
mencing February 25, 1859. The Editor advertises for 
news, and .says his columns are open to all religious and 
other societies having a worthy end in view. A St. Valen- 
tine's Ball is advertised to take place at the Globe Hotel 
Monday Eve, the fifteenth. Mr. (iray extends an invitation 
to all lovers of dancing. A "good time may be expected." 
The local news consisted of two marriages and two deaths. 
No comments, so we do not know how the brides were 
dressed, or what out-of-town people attended the funeral. 

The Editor must have enjoyed a joke, as fun is on 
every page. The hoo])-skirt period was at its height. " 'The 
marriage of Mr. Cooper to Miss Staves is announced. The 
result will probably be little barrels!' There is nothing more 
certain in this age since 'hoops' are so abundant." "The 
lady who burst into tears has been put together again, and 
is now wearing hoops to prevent a recurrence of the acci- 

552 



The Press in Rush ford 

dent." "Ill front of a certain literary institution in a neigh- 
boring town may be seen the sign : 'Smith and Huggs, Select 
School.' Smith teaches the boys and Huggs the girls." 

From the discontinuance of the News Letter Rush ford 
was without a local paper until the Spectator was founded 
in 1878 by Frank 11. Smith. In 1883 it passed into the 
hands of the present editor and proprietor, W. F. Benja- 
min. It now has a subscription list of twenty-three hundred 
and excels in local news. 



553 



XXV 

RUSHFORD 

AX EDITORIAL ENTITLED "RUSHFORD" BY H. E. 
PURDY IN THE "REPUBLICAN ERA" OF 
JULY 22, 1846 

IT is but a few years since our beautiful village com- 
menced springing into existence. It is now growing 
more rapidly than any village (excepting Dansville) in 
Western New York. While every other place has been 
borne down by pressures and the suspension of public works. 
Rush ford has advanced steadily on in growth and pros- 
perity. 

It is now the largest village in the county. It has more 
enterprise and industry, better mechanics and more busi- 
ness energy than any other village of like advantages in the 
State. 

Surrounded, as it is, by a rich farming country, now 
reaching a very high state of cultivation, it must, of neces- 
sity become a center and focus of business. Five years 
ago what is now Main Street was a highway bounded by 
vacant lots, and the very spot upon which stands the block 
in which our office is located, was a pasture hemmed in by 
a log fence. Several new buildings are now under progress 
of erection, and others are to be commenced the present 
season. Every thing denotes a real and substantial growth 
— one which is required by the increasing trade and busi- 
ness demands of its inhabitants. We have already ten 
stores of different kinds and more are to be added to the 
list this fall. Almost every branch of the mechanic arts is 



554 



Rush ford Village in 1848 

carried on, and we know of no mechanic but what is doing 
a good, money-making business. 

Under every consideration, Rushford asks to be pointed 
to a rival in prosperity. 



RL'SHFORD VILLAGE IN 1848 
H. J. W. G. 

STEPHEN PARKER was the landlord in Cephas 
Young's old tavern on Commercial Street;* this hotel 
stood on the lot now owned by Airs. James G. Benjamin; 
south of it was the blacksmith shop of D. S. Dvmham, back 
of which was the wagon shop of James T. Wier and Albert 
Gage. North of the hotel was the store of Truman Swift, f 
a man who could not keep books, but who could carry the 
accounts of a day in his head if his son DeAlton were 
away. Across the road from the store, James Thirds had 
a tailor shop. In February W. White, a former partner of 
Truman Swift, was occupying a building on Commercial 
Street five doors from the corner, selling "seasonable goods 
of all varieties." His store stood on the land between E. L. 
Slocum's and Mrs. Carrie Swetland's houses ; but it was not 
long before he moved into the building now occupied as a 
dwelling by Mrs. Edna King. At this time Mr. White 
lived in the house now owned by Mrs. Swetland. 

On Commercial Street, at head of Main Street, stood 
the Globe Hotel, J. A. Colby, proprietor. On the corner of 
Main and L'pper Streets, in Oramel Griffin's old store, was 
the People's Store of Irwin & Remington, where one could 
buy anything from a scythe to a French bonnet. Across 

*Now Upper Street. 

fThe grandfather of Truman Horton. 

555 



Rush ford 

the road on the corner stood the store of J. D. Boardman 
who was "determined not to be undersold by any establish- 
ment in Rushford, the Gordon Block not excepted." The 
house where Mrs. Julia Benson and daughter Mary live 
was the home of Lyman Congdon, north of which was his 
shoe shop; south of his house was the blacksmith shop of 
J. G. Osborn. 

"James's old store" on the corner of Main and Church 
Streets, was called the Empire Store or the Gordon Block ; 
in this block were the general store of J. & L. Gordon, whose 
"goods were like race horses because they went so fast;" 
the tailor shop of N. A. Hume; and, on the second floor, 
the office of the Republican Era. On the opposite corner 
was the Furnace of S. & H. K. White. Across the road 
from the Gordon Block and just east of the Methodist 
Chapel was the law office of A. P. Laning; the building has 
recently been moved to the back part of the lot. The law 
office of G. L. Walker was upstairs in the Furnace. 

On Main Street nearly opposite the Presbyterian 
Church. TFarmon Hyde kept a jewelry store, where one 
could buy not only jewelry, but silk for purses, gold pencils, 
flutes and snuff boxes. It is now used as a dwelling. Just 
east of Mr. Hyde's jewelry store, Harry Howe, a harness- 
maker, lived ; his shop was east of his house. 

In the block spoken of the year before as "the new build- 
ing of McCall & Adams"* were the Variety Store of George & 
Doolittle and, in the basement, the tailoring establishment 
of Henry Dockstader.f This building was afterwards called 
the Corinthian Block because of a large pillar which stood 
at the southeast corner of the porch ; later it was called the 
Adams Block ; now it is the Thomas Block. 
♦Tacoh McCall and Archibald Adams. 

tin March James Thirds and Henry Dockstader entered into 
partnership. 

556 



Riishford Village in 1848 

On the corner of Main and Lewellen Streets stood the 
Variety Store of Clark McCall, brother of Dr. Wm. Mc- 
Call, where one could buy pills, caps or crowbars. The 
Rushford Tin-Ware and Stove Store of Isaiah Lathrop oc- 
cupied the corner of Main and BulTalo Streets. The first 
door east of this building was the Chair Factory of Selah 
Root. In the Union Block, which joined the Chair Factory, 
were the Drug and Book Store of Dr. Wm. McCall & Co. 
(No. 5) and the law offices of Grover Leavens and George 
Bishop. For a few days. Mr. J. H. Mattison took rooms 
in the Union Block where he executed Daguerreotype Like- 
nesses in the most approved style. "Secure the shadow ere 
the substance fade." A part of the Union Block was raised, 
making a third story which was used as a public hall. This 
building burned more than twenty years ago. 

The Washington House (Temperance) is now the Tar- 
bell House ; Dr. William McCall was the proprietor. On the 
corner of West Main and Lower Streets, Nelson McCall 
kept a general store. In this store was the postoffice — James 
McCall, postmaster. Across the road from McCall's store, 
on the corner of Main and Lower Streets, stood the dry- 
goods store of Charles Gillman* and James Davidson. Just 
east of this store was the wagon shop and next the black- 
smith shop of Israel Thompson. Across the road and west 
of W. H. Thomas' house (then Mr. Howser's) was the 
blacksmith shop of Alpheus Howser. Where Mrs. B. B. 
Heald's millinery store stands, Smith Tuller had a shop 
where from lambs' wool which he collected from the farm- 
ers, he made felt, and from the felt, he made hats. 

Charles H. Smith, the "Knight of the Shears," lived on 
Buffalo Street in the house now owned by the Crockers; 

*Cha.se & Gillinan dissolved partnership February i. Charles 
Gillman lived east of the Presbyterian Church. 

557 



Rush ford 

north of this house was the shoe shop of James Green, in 
his dwelHng; south of Mr. Smith's house was the cabinet 
shop of John and William Merryfield. The tannery and 
shoe shop of Joseph Bell were on the west side of this 
street. On Lower Street toward Gordonville in the house 
now owned by John J. Thomas, John Doland lived ; his 
shoe shop was south of his house. In Gordonville were the 
woolen factory and gristmill. On the Caneadea road, on 
the site of Mrs. Luther Thomas' home, Richard Adams had 
a shoe shop. 

The Academy was not yet built ; but during this period 
there were select schools where higher branches were taught. 
The schoolhouse in the west district was on West Main 
Street at the foot of the hill, near the burying ground; H. 
A. Kimball taught the summer school and B. F. Perry* 
and Sarah Mitchell the winter school. The little red school- 
house in the east district was between two hills and near 
Indian Creek. There were four churches — the Baptist, the 
Rev. E. L. Harris, pastor; the Methodist Episcopal, the 
Rev. Chauncey S. Baker pastor before the Annual Confer- 
ence, and the Rev. John McEuen after; the Presbyterian, 
the Rev. S. A. Rawson pastor; and the Universalist, the 
Rev. Jacob Saxe pastor. The churches were well attended. 

Orville Boardman was supervisor and Harvey George 
town clerk. 

The location of Skaats' Marble Factory is not known. 
When Mrs. Achsah Champlin was asked concerning it, 
she said, "I do not remember the name, I am sorry ; but if 
I bore the name of Skaats I wouldn't want anyone to re- 
member mine." 

♦Benjamin F. Perry, son of Ebenezer P. Perry. 



558 



List of Letters 

NOTES. 

Truman Swift's store is now owned by Seward MulH- 
ken and stands on the high land near the First Burying 
Ground. Clark McCall's store is now Dr. Bixby's farm 
house. 

The "little red schoolhouse" was used by Samuel Lewis 
as a carpenter shop; it was torn down by Charles Tujler in 
1907. 

After the Gothic schoolhouse was built on the back 
street, the old schoolhouse on West Main Street was used 
by Samuel Thompson, and later by Alarshall Nye, as a car- 
penter shop; it is now a carriage house on the farm of Eddy 
C. Gilbert. 

The Merryfield cabinet shop is the meat market of 
Frank W. Damon. 



LIST OF LETTERS REMAINING IN THE POSTOF- 
FICE AT RUSHFORD, JANUARY i, 1848 

Adams, Sylvester Hopkins, E. M. & W. A. 

Alderman, Amba Stacy 

Brainard, Adaliga Lumis, Wm. 

Branch, Hulda Moore, Richard 

Clark, Amzi Orcutt. Lucinda 

Clark, George Phettyplace, Wm. 

Cole, Orange Perry, Jones 

Delamater, J. H. Peck, Elijah 

Dockstader, H. F., 3 Reynolds, Lewis 

Frost, Lucien Shepard, W. F. 

Eastman, Mrs. Lydia Silsby, Harry 

Eaton. Aaron Slater, John 

559 



Rush ford 

Coforth, Wm. Tubbs, James 

Gilbert, David B. \'alentine, Stephen 

Tliirlbert, Hannah Woodworth, Luther 
Hews, Richard 



STREETS OF RUSHFORD 
• 19 10. 1848. 

Main Main 

L'pper Commercial 

Lower Olean 

West Main Ellicott 

Concrete Lewellen* 

Buffalo Buffalo 

Church East Cross ( 1859) 

Lewellen, back. Cemetery Grave Lane 



A COMPARISON 
H. J. W. G. 

SOME of the things Rush ford people were engaged in 
February. 1838, as shown by an extract from a letter 
written by Mrs. Abraham J. Lyon. 

"Emeline goes to singing school, likewise to dancing 
school, and Eben goes too. There is everything going oil 
here. There is a meeting here that has held two weeks. 
.-\chsah. Hiram and Elijah.f George Swift. Simon and Laura 

*P). F. Lewellen lived where Marcus Eaton now lives, on the 
corner of Concrete and Lewellen Streets. The name Lewellen was 
first given to what is now Concrete Street. On this street about 
where A. M. Tarbell's warehouse now is, stood Mr. Lewellen's 
carpenter shop. ^ 

t.Vhsah, Hiram and Elijah were children of Cromwell and 
Zeruah Pratt Bennett. 

.s6o 



A Comparison 

Gordon, Sam Gordon's wife, all of Tarbel's family, Dorothy 
PMerce, and Bill Kingsbury — these are not a quarter part of 
the converts." 

Some of the things Rush ford people were engaged in 
February, 1910: 

The first of the month the Methodist and Baptist 
Churches held union meetings in the Methodist Church. 
They were assisted by the Rev. Lewis R. Williams, late from 
Wales, who edified the people by his heartfelt singing and 
his illumination of the Scriptures. 

The annual Missionary dinner was served at the Bap- 
tist parsonage. It was an enjoyable gathering because of 
the freedom and good cheer that prevailed. 

A W\ C. T. U. silver medal contest took place at the 
Methodist Church. The judges were the Rev. C. E. Pike, 
Mrs. W. W. Bush and Shirley Babbitt. Florence Brady 
won the medal. 

One evening, facing a wet snow storm from the east. 
Miss Ellen L}'man's Sunday School class and invited guests 
rode to the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Gilbert 
at Rushford Station. There was spread a bountiful repast 
to which all contributed. The company were entertained 
by songs, charades and other amusements. They returned 
home in a driving storm from the west. 

The Sunday School class of Martin Lyon, with other 
guests, gathered at the home of Mr. Lyon to make him a 
surprise party. Clair Phelps, the infant son of the Rev. F. 
A. Johnson, made his first appearance in society upon this 
occasion. The evening was pleasantly passed in conversa- 
tion and listening to the graphophone. 

On February 14th the Sesame Club met with Mrs. F. 
E. \\1iite and on the same evening the Cynthian Club met 
with Mrs. H. E. Tarbell. At each place lessons were re- 

561 



Rushford 

cited, refreshments served and St. \'alentine's day ob- 
served. 

About thirty of the friends of Dr. and Mrs. Wilham 
Bush made them a surprise party at their home. 

A party was given by Mrs. Fannie McCall for her chil- 
dren, Ethel and Gordon. 

A dance was held in Podonque. 

On February 22nd, after their dinner at Romain W. 
Benjamin's, eighteen women of the Relief Corps, carrying 
flags, with A. J. Lyon as standard bearer, were taken by 
Mr. Benjamin for a ride in a hayrack drawn by a pair of 
oxen. The driver would say to the men whom he met with 
horses, "Look out for your horses ; take the number of my 
auto; you must take your own risk." The entire turnout 
was a picturesque and patriotic spectacle. "Old Glory" 
seemed to gleam in the bright sunshine, midst the snow- 
drifts. 

On the evening of February 22nd, a number of men 
whose wives are members of the Cynthian Club gave a ban- 
quet in Agricultural Hall to which they invited the Cyn- 
thians. The hall was decorated with the national emblems ; 
the favors were cherries tied with yellow, the Cynthian 
color; and on the place cards were the words "The Best 
Men on Earth versus the Cynthians." Songs were sung by 
the hosts who, when encored, returned to sing original songs 
abounding in wit and humor aimed at the guests. 

Friday evening, February 25th, at the Academy Hall, 
the Sunshine Club, consisting of the following members: 
Ethel Agett, Ethel Baker, Florence Brady, Flora Frost, 
Hazel Hadley, Florence Horton, Ethel Jenks, Mary Johnson, 
Violet Johnson, Imogene Lane, Blanche Lane, Myrtle Lane, 
Lucile McFarland, Libbie Owens, Eva Owens, Pearl Tapp 
and Pauline King, all members of the Sunday School class 

562 




Jesse P. Bixby, M. D., and Grandson, Clarence Wilmot 



Rush ford 

(if Mrs. A. M. Tarbell, gave a delightful entertainment. Six- 
teen girls, dressed in white, having around their heads dark 
bands ornamented with clusters of pink roses, and around 
their necks untied ribbons also ornamented with clusters of 
roses, marched upon the stage to music. In the series of 
movements the climax was reached when of the ribbons a 
pagoda was formed. After the fancy drill and march, the 
band discoursed music which fell upon appreciative ears. 
The next and last number was a farce, "The Widow Snig- 
gles." Widow Sniggles in black, with her seven daughters 
of varied gifts and in fitting costumes, made a picture not 
easily forgotten. 



RUSHFORD 
H. J. W. G. 

RUSHFORD, township five, range two, of the Holland 
Purchase, is situated in the northwestern portion of 
Allegany County, with Centerville on the north, Caneadea 
on the east, New Hudson on the South, and Farmersville, 
Cattaraugus County, on the west. The township is six miles 
square. The population in 1910 was 1,262. The surface is 
liilly; the center of the town is 1,517 feet in height; the 
highest elevation of land, Taylor Hill, is 2,100 feet above 
sea level. It is well watered by Caneadea Creek and its 
tributaries, of which Rush and Indian Creeks are the larg- 
est. The scenery is always picturesque, whether in the 
spring with its tender green or in the autumn with its gor- 
geous coloring or in the winter when the drifts pile high. 
I'.ecause of its timber and water power Rushford once led 
the county in manufacturing, but its chief wealth today is 

564 



Rush ford 

in agriculture, especially dairying. Maple syrup and sugar 
of fine quality are manufactured. 

The village of Rushford, called by the early settlers 
The Center, is in the center of the town. It is laid out in 
three squares and one flatiron. That portion of the village 
south of the flatiron is called Gordonville. East Rushford, 
two miles from the center, sometime called Honeyville, con- 
sists of a small collection of dwellings, a schoolhouse, a saw- 
mill, run by Leslie McElheney, annd a gristmill, run by Clar- 
ence Stearns. 

The Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad traverses the east- 
ern portion of the town about one mile. The station, called 
Rushford, is four miles from the Tarbell House. 

On the north side of Main Street, the second building 
west of the center of town, is the Thomas Block in which 
are the Telephone Office, W. W. Thomas manager, the 
People's Bank of Howden & Hardy and the grocery of W. 
H. Woods. Next is the Concrete Block containing on the 
first floor the drug and department store of E. C. Gilbert, 
the clothing store of F. E. White and the postoffice — W. 
H. Thomas postmaster — and on the second floor the Masonic 
Hall where beside the Freemasons, the Odd Fellows,* the 
Knights of the Maccabees and the Ladies of the Maccabees 
meet ; the dental office of Dr. Wm. W. Bush is also on this 
floor. On the opposite side of the street are the harness 
shop of Myron Claus, and the Brick Block which contains 
on the first floor the furniture store of W. F. Benjamin and 
the dry goods and grocery store of J. G. James & Son, and 
on the second floor the office of the Rushford Spectator, 
and the law office of R. B. Laning. South of the Brick 

*Officers— Noble Grand, E. D. Hillary; Vice Grand, A. P. 
Benjamin; Warden, H. E. Austin; Chaplain, Charles Hall; Treas- 
urer, W. W. Thomas; Recording Secretary, L. E. Hardy; Financial 
Secretary, J. A. Benjamin. 

566 



Rush ford 

Ijlock is the millinery store of Mrs. B. B. Heald ; farther 
clown the street is the hardware store of W. W. Merrill; 
next door and on the corner of Main and Lower Streets 
is the dry goods and grocery store of S. E. Taylor & Son. 
On the corner of West Main and Lower Streets is the meat 
market of F. W. Damon ; just south of the market is the 
blacksmith shop of Herbert Austin. The Tarbell House is 
on the corner of West Main and Buffalo Streets. The shoe 
shoi>of Robert Murray is on Buffalo street. On the corner 
of Main and L'pper Streets stands the hardware and grocery 
store of F. H. Metcalf & Co. Donald Sower.sby's blacksmith 
shop is on Upper Street. The shop of Arthur Alderman, 
a worker in wood, is near his home on Upper Street. The 
wagon shop of J. G. Benjamin is on Upper Street, and that 
of W. K. Baldwin on Lower Street near Gordonville. The 
gristmill and sawmill of F. G. Gordon is west of the point 
of the flatiron. In the Hardy Block on Main Street is the 
barber shop of Charles Beaumont. Cement blocks are man- 
ufactured by W. W. Thomas on Main Street west of Agri- 
cultural Hall. 

The cheese factories in the town of Rush ford are the 
Rushford, owned by C. J. Elmer; West Branch, by J. F. 
James tS: Son; Hardy's Corners, by Charles Pettit; Po- 
don(|ue, by Peter Loftis ; Brookside, by Milton Gordon ; 
Kelloggville and McGrawville, by Frank Hogg. 

The physicians are Dr. J. P. Bixby on Buft"alo Street, 
Dr. F. C. Ballard on Lower Street, and Dr. E. D. Kilmer 
on West Main Street. 

In the High School six teachers are employed; and 
about one hundred and fifty pupils are in attendance. The 
school has always ranked well in the Regents' examinations ; 
one of the pupils received a 96-count certificate with honor. 
The members of the school board are Charles L. Metcalf, 

568 



Rush ford 

president ; W. H. Leavens, secretary ; D. W. Woods, Dr. 
E. D. Kilmer, F. W. Damon and B. H. Lane. 

The entire membership of the four churches, including 
the Wesleyan Methodist Church on Rush Creek, is three 
hundred and twenty-seven. 

The Woman's Christian Temperance Cnion meets once 
in two weeks at the home of one of the members. Mrs. 
Sophia E. Taylor is the president. The town has had no 
license since 1886. 

There are two literary clubs in town. The officers of 
the Cynthian Club are Mrs. W. W. Merrill, presi- 
dent; Mrs. Charles Beaumont, vice-president; Mrs. Edna 
King, secretary ; Mrs. W'. H. Leavens, treasurer, and 
Aliss Ellen Lyman, leader. The subject for study is the 
"History of Rome." The officers of the Sesame Club are 
Mrs. Wm. W. Bush, president; Mrs. T. P. Poate, vice presi- 
dent ; Miss Jennie White, secretary ; Mrs. A. M. Tarbell, 
treasurer ; Mrs. Jennie Westcott, conductor ; and Mrs. E. C. 
Gilbert, expositor. The subjects for study for 1910-11 are 
"Historical Geography of Bible Lands" and selected poems 
of Tennyson. Each club meets Monday evening, the Cvn- 
thian weekly, the Sesame fortnightly, about seven months 
of the year. 

The musical organizations are the band and the orches- 
tra. 

Members of the band : Dr. E. D. Kilmer, leader, solo 
cornet ; Kendall Hardy, solo cornet ; Clare R. Davis, first 
cornet; Abram P. Benjamin, tenor; Greydon R. Davis, trom- 
bone; DeWitt Stone, solo alto; Arthur Alderman, alto; 
Otho Olthof , alto ; Kenneth Damon, alto ; W. W. Thomas, 
baritone; D. D. Gordon, b-flat bass; Warren Hardy, tuba; 
Allen Morrison, snare drum. 

Members of the orchestra : Dr. F. C. Ballard, first vio- 

569 




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Rush ford 

lin; Mrs. J. A. James, first violin; Kendall Hardy, second 
violin ; Mrs. F. C. Ballard, piano ; Miss Bessie Thomas, first 
cornet ; Clare D. Davis, first cornet ; Warren Hadley, tuba. 

The politics of the town is shown by the presidential 
vote in 1908: William Taft, 248; William J. Bryan, 60; 
Eugene Chafin, 32; Gilhaus, i. Charles E. Hughes received 
255 votes for governor. It is not rare, however, for the 
supervisor or town clerk or one of the justices to be a Dem- 
ocrat or Prohibitionist. 

Although the village is not incorporated, the walks are 
excellent. Not long since a visitor said that he believed 
Rushford was the best painted place in the State. A public- 
spirited man each night lights the lamps on Main Street 
and, when all is still, with his lantern goes about the streets 
to see if "all is well." 

May, 1910, work was begun on the cement house of 
John G. James and in June of the same year work was 
commenced on the State road which is to extend from the 
Gordonville bridge to Rushford Station. This is the first 
macadamized State road surveyed in Allegany County. The 
first survey was made when Frank Wayland Higgins was 
governor of New York State. 

The Rushford Cemetery is especially well kept. Much 
credit is due Ralph B. Laning for its fine appearance. The 
much improved appearance of the First Burying Ground has 
been brought about largely through the efforts of Ansel 
Miner Taylor and his son Frank. 

There has always been little of the spirit of caste in 
the place ; after James Gordon moved to Rockport, he said 
that he often thought of Rushford with no one rich, no one 
destitute, everyone respected if he behaved himself. Rush- 
ford village, largely a residence place for retired farmers, 
contains one hundred and thirty-seven dwellings; it has a 

571 



Rush ford 

tidy, well-to-do appearance and a quiet air, but there is in 
the town much power, else how could it have a great cen- 
tennial, a history of the town and a State road, all within 
four years. 

The needs of the town are an increased attendance at 
church, a stronger town spirit and a railroad. 

The attitude of those who have spent a considerabl 
portion of their lives in Rush ford, is like that of Wilson i 
Gordon, who says, 

O Heaven as it is described. 

So beautiful and fair. 
Would be no Paradise to me 

If Rushford people were not there. 



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